Former University of Hawaiʻi quarterback Timmy Chang will be the new football head coach of his alma mater.
Details of his new four-year contract show that he will be paid a minimum of $500,000 his first year and $750,000 in his fourth year.
If the team goes to a bowl game in his first two seasons, the contract will be extended one more year and he would be set to receive a minimum of $800,000 in the fifth year of his contract.
According to Civil Beat's Public Employee Salaries Database, Chang would be the second highest paid state employee behind only Dr. Jerris Hedges, dean of the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine. Chang could take the top spot by year two of his contract, when he would make $600,000.
In his first year, Chang will receive an annual base salary of $250,008 and every two months will receive a $41,667 retention bonus, for total annual compensation of $500,010.
If he qualifies for a fifth year, he would receive an annual base salary of $290,004 and $85,000 every two months, for total annual compensation of $800,004.
If UH decides to fire the coach, the university would be on the hook for the remainder of the contract, prorated from date of separation. If Chang decides to leave the program, he would pay $900,000 in the first year and $300,000 from year four on.
There are several bonuses available for the coach if the team wins the Mountain West Conference championship, plays in a bowl game, and more.
He could also receive a $40,000 bonus if the team has a single year Academic Progress Rate achievement of 980 or greater, as defined by the NCAA. It measures how well scholarship athletes are staying in school and remaining academically eligible to play. Teams must earn a four-year average APR of 930 to compete in NCAA championships.
In the 2018-2019 academic year, the football team scored a 949 APR, according to the latest available data from the NCAA. That academic year, only four out of 18 UH teams had an APR under 980.
UH Athletics Director David Matlin addressed the media following a drama-filled past month that saw the resignation of head coach Todd Graham and a search for his replacement.
Matlin said UH tried to work out a succession plan model with former head coach June Jones where he would hand over the reins of the football team to Timmy Chang after two years.
Matlin said that he originally discussed the idea with Jones in 2015, prior to the hiring of former head coach Nick Rolovich.
"I really believe that this was an opportunity to make the best of both worlds," Matlin said. "We would have gained from the immediate fan excitement that June would bring and he would be able to mentor Timmy and work side by side with him. This would be in the best interests of our program, not only for the player recruitment standpoint, but really in all aspects.”
Matlin said he allotted three hours to meet with Jones on Friday, but the former coach said two years would be too short of a transition period. The athletics director said he was willing to extend the contract to three years, with Chang taking over in year four.
Junes also disagreed with the athletics director’s approval of hiring assistant coaches - which Matlin said is standard UH practice across all sports.
Specifically, Matlin disagreed with bringing former player and coach Rich Miano onto the staff.
Days earlier, Miano said he would like to one day be UH's head coach. With both Chang and Miano on staff, Matlin thought that this would raise questions and confusion under the succession plan model.
Jones ended the negotiations within 30 minutes.
