Athletic director Herman Frazier is asking the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents for what is expected to be a significant increase in the salary range of the men's head basketball coach in preparation for hiring a new coach.

The request is scheduled to be presented during the board's monthly meeting tomorrow and Friday at Hawai'i Community College in Hilo, according to a UH spokeswoman.

The contract of Riley Wallace, who has held the position for the past 20 seasons, expires April 30. Wallace is receiving $275,000 this season and earned $250,000 the first two years of the current three-year contract. The posted range for the position is listed at $81,000 to $138,000, which the board can grant exceptions to and revise, according to UH.

Carolyn Tanaka, UH associate vice president for external affairs and university relations, declined to disclose the range being requested until the board meets, citing board policy.

Frazier, through an athletic department spokeswoman, also declined comment.

But acquaintances have said Frazier told them he would like to offer a salary within the upper tier of salaries in the Western Athletic Conference, noting a $400,000 ballpark. In January, when Wallace confirmed his departure, Frazier said the salary would be "competitive" within the nine-school WAC.

Nevada's Mark Fox and Fresno State's Steve Cleveland are believed to be the highest-paid basketball coaches in the WAC in the $500,000 neighborhood. An industry survey listed the average WAC salary at $300,000 and the average Division I-A salary at $675,000.

Frazier has said he hopes to hire Wallace's successor around the NCAA Final Four, the weekend of March 31. The closing date for applications is March 21.

In other news, Michigan State paid UH $250,000 to cancel its contracted Nov. 24, 2007 football game at Aloha Stadium, both schools said yesterday.

The Nov. 24 date was to have been the final game in a three-year series, but MSU said it notified UH in January 2006 of its intention to cancel the game, citing a decision not to play a 13th game this year.

UH won 41-38 in 2004 at Aloha Stadium and the Spartans won 42-14 in East Lansing in 2005.

A clause in the contract called for a "$250,000 cancellation fee."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.