Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji has a tentative 2008 schedule for his Rainbow Wahine volleyball team and has also scheduled time to talk about a new contract, which could be his last. Shoji's current pact expires June 30.

Shoji, 61, has been the Hawai'i coach since the program's second year. He started in 1975, guiding the 'Bows to a second-place national finish. Hawai'i has won four national titles in his 33 seasons, and 14 final-four finishes. Shoji's record is 953-169. He ranks second to UCLA's Andy Banachowski in career wins and second to Penn State's Russ Rose in winning percentage.

The Rainbow Wahine will open the 2008 season against the defending NCAA champion Nittany Lions Aug. 29, in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic. UH plays the Bruins in the tournament finale, Aug. 31 at Stan Sheriff Center.

The schedule also includes Cincinnati, coached by Hilo High graduate Reed Sunahara. Pacific, coached by former UH associate Charlie Wade, and St. Mary's will participate in the Rainbow Wahine Invitational the third week of the season. Both teams feature several Hawai'i players. That tournament also features 2005 NCAA champion Washington.

Huskie coach Jim McLaughlin signed a five-year extension last month. Shoji is looking for a "multi-year extension" for what he acknowledges will probably be his final contract. Both his sons will be at Stanford in the fall and a new four-year extension would take him to age 65.

He met with interim athletics director Carl Clapp yesterday to begin the process.

"I'm not in any hurry," Shoji said. "I'm sure it will be done by the time it expires in June. ... I need to listen to what they're willing to do and go from there."

Shoji's current contract paid him a base salary of $120,000 the first year. That rose to $140,000 this year. He also received $5,000 annual incentives for paid attendance over 6,000, which UH has done every year since moving into the Stan Sheriff Center in 1994. Last season was the first time since 2001 the team did not average more than 7,000.

Shoji also got a $2,500 incentive for winning the Western Athletic Conference, something UH has done the past 10 years.

His salary is by far the highest in the WAC — New Mexico State coach Mike Jordan is next and he just hit six figures — but not among the highest in the country. Those coaches mostly compete in the Pac-10, Big 10 and Big 12, with some making more than $200,000.

Most of the game's best-paid coaches are his friends and play here on a regular basis. Shoji says he rarely has to make calls to fill out his schedule.

"Really it's more of an 'old-boy network' and there are several women in that network ...," Shoji said. "We like to have teams from all over the country. It gives us a better perspective of what's happening."

Hawai'i is still looking for a non-conference team to come in Thanksgiving week.

NOTES

'Iolani graduate Raeceen Woolford, who used up her eligibility last season, already has found a way to fill her free time. Woolford won the Miss Honolulu scholarship pageant last month. The pre-med major earned a $13,000 scholarship and two smaller grants.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.