As the first anniversary of his firing approaches, Gib Arnold could receive the largest settlement ever awarded a former University of Hawaii athletic department employee.
Although the amount of the proposed settlement with the former men’s basketball coach has yet to be announced pending Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting at UH-Maui College, the proposal is expected to be worth high six figures.
Board policy requires settlements in excess of $500,000 to be submitted to the regents for approval.
Two of UH’s largest settlements to date — with former President Evan Dobelle ($2.3 million) and ex-football coach Greg McMackin ($600,000) — ran approximately 50 cents to the dollar on what was being asked. Arnold has been seeking $1.4 million from UH under a firing “without cause” clause in his 2011 contract.
McMackin’s settlement, which came the night of UH’s 2011 end-of-the-year football banquet under terms said to be set by then-UH President M.R.C. Greenwood, is the most for a former athletic department figure.
A Thursday agenda item listed as “Settlement of claims involving Gibson K. Arnold” is scheduled initially for closed-door executive session, followed by approval in open session.
By course, settlements coming before the regents reflect the recommendation of senior UH officials.
Representatives of UH and Arnold are said to have met late last month with mediator Keith Hunter after months of charges, countercharges and earlier arbitration efforts failed.
Jim Bickerton, Arnold’s Honolulu attorney, said, “The parties made good progress at the mediation with Mr. Hunter, and now we’re waiting to see what the Board of Regents will do.”
UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said, “There is a tentative settlement agreement between the university and former UH men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold. We are unable to provide any further details until it goes before the Board of Regents at the Oct. 15 meeting.”
UH officials were not immediately able to say how the settlement will be financed or how much will be absorbed by an athletic department that is already operating at a deficit.
Arnold was fired without cause Oct. 28 amid an NCAA investigation of the men’s basketball program, and the push for a settlement comes as he and UH are scheduled to appear at a hearing Thursday in Dallas before the NCAA Committee on Infractions. They are to answer questions regarding NCAA allegations of seven rule violations.
Arnold filed a grievance with his union, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, in February seeking the $1.4 million under provisions of his contract. After arbitration failed, UH filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court in June claiming Arnold owed the school more than $2,000 for a past travel advance.
In September, Arnold filed a motion asking that the suit be dismissed.
His contract called for an annual base salary of $344,000 per year, and a three-year contract extension said to be worth $400,000 a year was sitting on the UH-Manoa chancellor’s desk when Arnold was terminated.
Arnold, who was previously an assistant coach at the University of Southern California, coached the Rainbow Warriors for four seasons (2010-14), compiling a 72-55 record and the program’s first 20-win season (20-11 in 2013-14) in 10 years.
As part of its self-imposed penalty submitted to the NCAA, UH has said it will vacate 36 victories it says involved two ineligible players, leaving Arnold with a 36-55 record.
Last month Arnold took a job as a scout with the Boston Celtics.
