University of Hawaii men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold’s new contract is expected to make him the highest paid coach in the Big West Conference for a while.
Arnold, according to UH officials, is to receive a $21,000 raise to a $365,000 annual base salary beginning with he 2014-15 season.
UH said last week that Arnold is receiving a three-year extension that, in addition to a one-year rollover guaranteed by a 20-win season in 2013-14, will take him through 2017-18.
Arnold had a $344,000 base under his former (2011-14) deal that included a $50,000 "overload payment from university-solicited boosters."
Athletic director Ben Jay declined to say if the "Hardcourt Hui" boosters group would be underwriting a portion of the new deal, or how much.
Long Beach State coach Dan Monson is to receive a $341,562 base in 2014-15 according to the terms of his last reported contract. Monson, a former Gonzaga and Minnesota head coach, is to receive $358,640 in 2015-16, the Daily 49er reported.
UC Santa Barbara’s Bob Williams, the dean of Big West basketball coaches at 17 years, is listed at $235,000. Cal Poly coach Joe Callero has a raise to a reported $227,000 after winning the Big West tournament and taking the Mustangs to the NCAA Tournament.
In return for his raise, Arnold apparently will give up a provision that granted him a bonus of $1,000 each for up to six 30-minute autograph sessions.
He will retain, however, provisions for a one-year contract extension if he achieves any one of six yet-to-be-announced "performance benchmarks."
There are also bonus provisions tied to team athletic and academic performance, UH officials have said.
Arnold did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Arnold’s deal remains the second highest among UH coaches after football coach Norm Chow’s $550,000 and doubles that of Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji’s $179,328.
UH officials said neither Arnold’s raise nor some other "slight bumps" in pay for other head coaches whose contracts have been extended will be impacted by new austerity measures announced by Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple since they were approved before the July 15 deadline.
Arnold is 72-55 through four seasons at UH — including 33-31 in conference regular-season games and 1-4 in conference tournament games.
UH was 20-11 last season, the Rainbow Warriors’ first 20-win campaign in 20 years.
