New University of Hawaii women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman will receive a $1,000 bonus for every "away" victory and $1,000 for every home crowd of 2,000 or more, according to terms of her contract.
They are examples of one of the most incentive-laden contracts ever given to the coach of a women’s team at the school. Information was obtained by the Star-Advertiser through the state’s open records law.
"Philosophically, what I’ve been trying to do with all the coaches we’ve hired is that when they do well they earn additional compensation," said Jim Donovan, UH athletic director. "They have a base (salary) amount that is reasonable and competitive, but the upside really is in the incentives."
The annual salary range for the position, as set by the UH Board of Regents, is $118,488-$209,784. UH refused to disclose the exact salary for Beeman, whose hiring was announced March 23 after two years as an assistant at USC. But her three-year contract is said to be in the $130,000-$150,000 range annually.
Beeman has 14 bonus provisions in her contract, five more than her predecessor, Dana Takahara-Dias, and one less than football coach Norm Chow. Men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold has the most, at 20.
INCENTIVES
Here’s a sampling of the 14 bonus provisions in new women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman’s contract:
» $1,000 for every road win
» $1,000 for every postgame autograph session (maximum of six per year)
» $1,000 for each home game with at least 2,000 in turnstile attendance
» $3,000 bonus for a second-place conference finish |
Women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji reportedly chose to take more up-front money in his most recent contract for retirement purposes.
Beeman is the only one who is specifically rewarded for winning "away" games. In attempting to turn around a program that hasn’t had a winning season in five years, Donovan said, "I thought, ‘What is critical to the women’s program being successful?’ And, that is getting road wins. I just know that we have a real home advantage in men’s and women’s basketball, but it is very tough to win on the road. Road wins, in general, make the program more successful."
For bonus purposes, the contract states an "away game is defined as outside of the state of Hawaii." UH was 4-5 on the road in 2011-12.
The women’s basketball program hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 1998 and a return would bring Beeman a $12,500 bonus, while a Big West Championship would be worth $6,000. A second-place finish comes with a $3,000 bonus.
The Rainbow Wahine’s home attendance averaged 761 per game in 2011-12 and Beeman will receive $1,000 each time the turnstile count reaches 2,000 or $1,500 if it hits 3,000. UH hasn’t topped 3,000 since 2003.
Like Arnold, Beeman receives a $1,000 bonus for each home postgame autograph session, up to a maximum of six per season.
