HILO — The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents balked at more than tripling the maximum salary for the men's head basketball coaching position to $503,304, but agreed to raise it to $400,000 yesterday.

Athletic director Herman Frazier is searching for a successor to Riley Wallace, whose contract expires April 30. Frazier had proposed a salary range for the head coach of $184,836 to $503,304. But the board, meeting at Hawai'i Community College, opted to cap the maximum pay at $400,000, according to Carolyn Tanaka, UH associate vice president for external affairs and university relations.

"In the end the regents felt comfortable with the $400,000 maximum salary range," Tanaka said.

The new range is $184,836 to $400,000.

University President David McClain agreed that "a wider range gives more flexibility to respond to opportunities in the marketplace," Tanaka said.

The previous listed range was $81,000 to $138,000 although the board granted an exemption to pay Wallace $275,000 this season. Wallace received $250,000 the first two years of the current three-year contract. His 20-year tenure as head coach ends April 30, and Frazier has said he hopes to name a replacement in early April. The closing date for applications is March 21.

The board also agreed to raise the salary ranges of the men's associate and assistant coaches. For the associate coach, the regents increased the existing salary range of $50,004 to $78,000 to $79,500 to $124,656, Tanaka said.

The range for assistant coaches goes from $39,000 to $58,008 to $50,004 to $105,000, she said.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.