UH gets hefty check from NCAA

After three years of sometimes acrimonious exchanges with the NCAA, there is one bit of correspondence the University of Hawaii athletic department says it is looking forward to.

A $794,428 check next month.

The check, which represents about 2 percent of the UH athletic budget, is the school’s share of a one-time NCAA endowment distribution.

The NCAA Board of Governors authorized that $200 million be disbursed among Division I members “for the direct benefit of the student-athlete and their academic success, life skills, career success, health and safety…” and other initiatives.

The amount awarded each school is based upon the number of athletic scholarships they award for the 2013-14 school year and vary from $165,000 to $1.3 million.

“It is a one-time thing, so it is very positive,” athletic director David Matlin said.

UH grants 241.38 scholarships. Its check is the second highest in the 12-member Mountain West Conference, where the school competes in football and tops the nine-member Big West, where most other UH sports compete, according to a USA Today listing.

It comes a month after the conclusion of a long-running investigation and infractions case involving the UH men’s basketball program.

Schools may use the money how they see fit addressing athlete needs within certain guidelines. For example, the NCAA says, it may help fund cost of attendance stipends, enhanced academic adviser services, career coaching, nutritional and medical programs. But the monies cannot be used for coaches salaries, capital improvements, strength and conditioning equipment or the fan experience.

UH was not immediately able to say how it intends to use the funds.

But it cannot be used to pay attorney fees in NCAA infractions cases.