HONOLULU - Hawaii coach June Jones received a new five-year contract worth more than four million dollars Friday, making him the state's highest paid employee. <br>
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The deal was approved by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Jones' original five-year contract was to expire after this season. <br>
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Jones, who earned about $380,000 annually in base salary, will now earn $800,000 per season -- plus incentives. The deal runs through June 30, 2008. <br>
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The Hawaii president who earns $442,000 a year, Evan Dobelle, said, ``It's big time athletics and he's a big time coach.'' <br>
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The university will pay half of Jones' new salary. The rest will come from private donors and the booster club. <br>
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Jones has a 30-21 record at Hawaii since 1999 and led the Warriors to bowl games in two of the past four seasons. <br>
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Before arriving at Hawaii, Jones coached the Atlanta Falcons from 1994-1996, and was interim coach of the San Diego Chargers in 1998. <br>
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In 1999, he led Hawaii to the biggest one-year turnaround in NCAA history. Hawaii started the season with an 18-game losing streak -- 0-12 in '98 -- and went 9-4, including a 23-17 victory over Oregon State in the Oahu Bowl.
