Less than a month into his tenure as the University of Hawaii’s football coach, Norm Chow is estimated to already be about one third of the way to paying his first-year salary in new ticket orders generated.

Between new memberships in the ‘Ahahui Koa Anuenue booster club and deposits placed for new season tickets, officials estimate they already have pledges worth $175,000-$210,000. Chow’s salary is $550,000, according to the university.

“I think with all the excitement he’s brought and the marketing we’re doing, what you’re seeing right now, in just the first (half) of January, is the beginning of the tangible results from the hiring of Coach Chow,” athletic director Jim Donovan said.

“Between what he’s done in the community, in recruiting so far and this, Coach Chow is really knocking it out of the park.”

UH ticket manager Walter Watanabe said through a spokesman that 155 people had put down $50 deposits on new season tickets and most were for multiple seats. Some, Watanabe said, are asking for “six to eight” seats. Season ticket packages are priced from $75-$375 per seat, depending on location.

In addition, Koa Anuenue director Vince Baldemor said nearly $40,000 has been realized from the sale of new booster packages. He said “prime seats are in high demand.”

Baldemor said, “A real positive is we are hearing current season-ticket holders and package holders say, ‘Hey, you know what, I’m going to renew and I want to get two more seats, too.'”

Booster packages range from $1,500-$22,000. Koa Anuenue renewal forms are scheduled to go out next month, Baldemor said.

UH sold approximately 20,000 season tickets in 2011, its lowest total in five years, and officials said they feared a major drop before changing head coaches.

“The feedback I got from a lot of people (late in the season) was that if a change wasn’t made, that, maybe, they wouldn’t continue their tickets and a lot of them were long-time season-ticket holders,” Donovan said. “With the excitement level that Coach Chow has brought, we expect them back now.”

In other news, the Na Koa football booster club is planning a letter-of-intent-day event Feb. 1 to coincide with the announcement of UH’s signees.

Information on joining Koa Anuenue is available at koaanuenue.org while season-ticket deposit information is at hawaiiathletics.com.