The University of Hawai'i and Bob Nash are nearing the end of negotiations aimed at extending his contract as head men's basketball coach.

Nash has met with athletic director Jim Donovan in an annual year-end review and the coach's representative has met with UH regarding the potential terms of an extension, people in the athletic department said.

Indications are it could be a one-year extension with salary and bonuses heavily tied to performance benchmarks.

Donovan declined comment other than to say, "there have been some discussions but I'm not at liberty to discuss personnel matters."

Nash did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Without an extension, the upcoming season would be Nash's last of an initial three-year contract that is estimated to pay approximately $240,000 per season. The contract lists a salary range for the position of $184,836 to $403,612.

The Rainbow Warriors were 13-17 this season and are 24-36 in two years under Nash, who replaced Riley Wallace following the 2006-07 season.

The contract Nash signed upon taking the job contained clauses allowing him to receive one-year extensions after the first and second years of the agreement based upon "a satisfactory performance evaluation." He did not receive an extension after his first season.

Because Nash wasn't announced as head coach until April 13, 2007, two days after the first day of the national letter of intent signing period, the 'Bows were late in the recruiting process his first year. Donovan has said in interviews that he believes Nash was "hampered" by the tardiness of the hire.

The 'Bows did not lose any seniors from the most recent team and will have at least two scholarships to award on April 15, the start of the signing period.