The University of Hawaii football team’s participation in a postseason bowl this year will trigger a one-year extension that will keep head coach Nick Rolovich under contract through the 2020 season.
Rolovich signed a four-year contract that was activated on Nov. 30, 2015, and set to run through Nov. 29, 2019.
But according to contract terms, if the Rainbow Warriors participate “in a bowl game in Year 1 or 2 of this contract, the appointment period will be extended by one (1) year with an annual base salary in the range for Head Football Coach of $392,142 to $935,544.”
Rolovich’s annual base salary is $400,008 for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In 2018, the base increases to $425,004. The base for the extended year has not been determined. Rolovich’s contract includes bonuses for reaching a bowl, winning a bowl, and for the team’s academic performance.
The Warriors, who are guaranteed a bowl berth, are expected to play in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. Despite a 6-7 regular season, the Warriors qualify because there are not enough .500-or-better teams to fill the 80 berths for FBS bowls.
Rolovich’s extension will be useful information for the 10 recruits who made official UH-sponsored visits this weekend.
The Warriors have been waiting for the official invitation before finalizing pre-bowl plans. A Hawaii Bowl berth means the Warriors could begin practicing as early as Monday, easily fitting the maximum 15 practices into the three weeks leading to Christmas Eve.
UH’s commencement ceremony is Dec. 17. Hawaii Bowl participants will be allowed to check into Waikiki hotel rooms on Dec. 18. According to a bowl spokesman, the Mountain West team is assigned the Moana Surfrider; the other team will stay at the Sheraton Waikiki.
The UH players have not had any team activities since defeating Massachusetts on senior night a week ago.
“I hope they took advantage of it with school,” Rolovich said. “There weren’t many demands on them from us. That was a good opportunity to really concentrate on school and do extra.”
Friday is the final day of instruction for the fall semester. Final-exam week begins on Dec. 12.
Last week Rolovich met with each of the players returning for the 2017 season. He presented them with review sheets modeled after the player profiles in the Madden video game. The players received ratings for academics, discipline, awareness, strength, speed, quickness/agility, toughness, consistency, coachability, leadership and nastiness. Each sheet included a player’s picture and vitals. The position coaches will meet with their players this week.
