A proposed contract that would make Gib Arnold the highest-paid coach in the history of the Hawaii men’s basketball program is on the negotiating table.
Arnold, who in his first season guided UH to a 19-13 record and an appearance in the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament, has a base salary offer from UH for $345,000 per year, according to sources who have been briefed on the talks. It would be a minimum three-year contract with a maximum of six years if unspecified incentives are reached.
Some of the proposed salary would be covered by UH boosters.
Should Arnold agree to those terms, or something close, it would be a considerable (44 percent) bump from the $240,000-per-year, three-year deal he was given upon his hire in March 2010.
When asked if they felt negotiations were nearing completion, neither Arnold nor UH athletic director Jim Donovan offered definite responses. Each declined comment on contract specifics. Arnold has negotiated through his representative, Russell Kaupu.
Arnold said: “I’m very confident that we’re going to work something out. I want to be here and build something special. That’s the goal.”
“I will say it’s in process,” Donovan said, declining further comment.
Among the positives Arnold achieved for the program last season were its first postseason appearance in seven seasons and a 38 percent rise in attendance from the previous year. UH had its first winning season since 2006-07 and Arnold tied Bruce O’Neil for the most wins by a first-year UH coach.
Should the parties fail to reach a deal, Arnold would revert to the major terms of agreement of his original contract. Official practices for the 2011-12 season open on Oct. 15 around the country and sentiments are the parties would like to reach a deal before then.
Negotiations began soon after UH’s season ended with a loss to San Francisco in the CIT’s second round in March. Offseason holdups included an investigation of the UH coaching staff based on complaints made by a former player, recent changes of members on the UH Board of Regents and the “Warriors to Asia” international tour that took up the bulk of August.
The investigation is believed to be near completion with no known action taken against UH or Arnold.
Arnold also is believed to be on the verge of announcing his new assistant coach after associate coach Walter Roese left the program earlier this month.
