Frazier: Progress
on Jones ‘excellent’A five-year deal for Hawaii's football coach
could go to the Board of Regents on June 19
The long-awaited wrap-up of June Jones' contract might come within three weeks.
UH football schedule
All times HawaiiAug. 30:Appalachian State, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 13: at USC, 10 a.m.
Sept. 19: at UNLV, 3 p.m.
Sept. 27: Rice, 6:05 p.m.
Oct. 4: at Tulsa, 2 p.m.
Oct. 11: Fresno State, 6:05 p.m.
Oct. 18: Louisiana Tech, TBA
Oct. 25: UTEP, 6:05 p.m.
Nov. 1: at San Jose State, 10 a.m.
Nov. 15: at Nevada, 10:05 a.m.
Nov. 22: Army, 6:05 p.m.
Nov. 29: Alabama, 6:05 p.m.
Dec. 6: Boise State, 6:35 p.m.
A five-year deal for the Hawaii football coach could be presented to the university's Board of Regents at the BOR's next set of committee meetings June 19, UH athletic director Herman Frazier said yesterday.
Assuming positive reaction from committee, the contract would likely be approved the following day at the BOR's regular monthly meeting,
"I don't know the exact timetable yet," Frazier said. "But the progress has been excellent. I'm focused on it and I know where we're headed."
If Frazier is not ready to make the presentation next month, the proposal will likely be made July 10 and be up for final approval July 11.
Jones, Frazier, and Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg, have all indicated in recent weeks that the deal is close to done -- but all have declined to discuss financial details.
The contract is expected to include a sizable pay increase for Jones, who makes close to $400,000 a year in a four-year contract that expires after the coming season. The bulk of Jones' compensation is expected to come from private sources.
Raises are also expected for eight assistant coaches (and one position that is open). The assistants, who work under one-year contracts, have not had raises since Jones' tenure began in 1999. They have received bonuses for UH's two bowl game appearances in the past four years.
Hawaii is 31-20 in Jones' four years.
His new contract has been at issue since the end of the 2001 season, when Steinberg asked for $1 million a year for his client as a starting point for re-negotiating the current contract. Those talks didn't last long, but negotiations for the new deal began shortly after the 2002 season and have progressed quietly.
"We've been under the radar purposely," Frazier said.
USC game on Fox: UH's game at USC on Sept. 13 will be televised by Fox Sports Network, bringing to at least three the number of UH games on national TV for the 2003 season.
The game starts at 1 p.m. (10 a.m. Hawaii time) at the Los Angeles Coliseum, according to the Trojans' Web site.
The Warriors' games at Nevada-Las Vegas (Sept. 19) and at home against Boise State (Dec. 6) are also scheduled for national TV, by ESPN. The Alabama game (Nov. 29) is likely to be shown, too, and the Fresno State game (Oct. 11) might be broadcast by the same network.
Hawaii will also appear on national TV if it plays in the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl on Christmas. UH is contractually obligated to play in the game at Aloha Stadium if the Warriors end the season eligible for a bowl game but are not invited to a BCS game.
USC beat Hawaii 62-7 on Sept. 4, 1999, in Jones' first game as UH coach.
Pula on path to UH?: Former Kahuku running back Mulivai Pula has been the subject of a tug-of-war between UH and Brigham Young for two years now.
Pula was the Star-Bulletin's No. 3-ranked football prospect in the state in the class of 2002. He chose BYU over UH, but did not qualify academically for either school. He enrolled at Snow College in Utah in the fall of 2002, but did not stay long.
He now intends to enroll at College of the Canyons in California -- the JC alma mater of UH's star defensive tackle, Isaac Sopoaga.
So, if one goes by junior colleges being "feeder schools," UH may now have the edge in the lengthy recruiting battle for Pula. It is still at question, however, if Pula will become academically sound enough to ever play for any Division I school.
UH Athletics
