Tuesday, May 25, 1999
VonAppen,
UH end dispute
The former head football
By Paul Arnett
coach gets the rest of his salary
but no TV money
Star-BulletinFred vonAppen reached a settlement with his former employer yesterday that basically states he is to be paid the two remaining years on his contract.
VonAppen received a lump-sum settlement of $142,000 based upon the discounted value of his contract that still has 18 months remaining on it.
"I haven't really heard anything, but if it's all over, then I'm glad," vonAppen told the Star-Bulletin last night. "I never asked for more than I felt I deserved. I think it's best for all parties that we get this resolved and move on."
Arbitrator Gerald Sekiya mediated this matter that landed in District Court last month after Hawaii athletic director Hugh Yoshida attempted to reassign vonAppen in early January to Honolulu Community College.
VonAppen not only challenged this move by Yoshida and school president Ken Mortimer, he also wanted to be paid an additional $100,000 for his radio and television shows.
Sekiya didn't agree, but he also felt Hawaii didn't have the right to reassign vonAppen to Honolulu Community College. VonAppen said had UH just agreed to a buyout last December -- much as it did after firing former head coach Bob Wagner five years ago -- this all could have been avoided.
"This has been a painful six months," vonAppen said. "I wouldn't wish something like this on anybody."
Last month, Circuit Court Judge Gail Nakatani ruled that vonAppen had to settle this matter through arbitration as stated in his contract.
He had agreed to an arbitrator before filing suit, but after UH tried to dictate what part of his contract would be reviewed, he felt it necessary to go to court.
"The court ruled that we must proceed with arbitration and if there's a disagreement, then we can come back," vonAppen's personal attorney, Guy Sibilla, said at the time of the ruling.
They won't be returning because all pending issues between the parties have been resolved. That was good news for Yoshida and Mortimer, who said in a release yesterday that they were pleased the matter was resolved amicably. They also wished vonAppen well in his future endeavors.
VonAppen isn't sure just what the future holds. Prior to his final season with UH, vonAppen turned down an assistant's position with the Oakland Raiders.
He had some inquiries earlier this year, but at this point, most NFL and college positions already are filled. In all likelihood, he'll have to wait until next year to seek employment as a coach.
"I'm ready to get back out there and give me something to do," vonAppen said. "I'm not rich, so I have to keep working. We would like to keep the house in Hawaii if possible. For now, this is our home."
