June Jones, the notable college football coach known for his extraordinary contributions to the game, passed away on Thursday in Oregon at the age of 73. He had been facing health challenges earlier this year and entered hospice care two weeks prior to his passing.
Jones was instrumental in turning around a struggling Hawaii football program during his nine seasons there. Upon his arrival in December 1998, the Warriors had just finished a dismal 0-12 season but made history with a remarkable turnaround.
In his inaugural season, the Warriors finished with a 9-4 record, sharing the Western Athletic Conference championship and clinching the Oahu Bowl. This nine-win improvement was unprecedented in Division I football.
Among his many achievements, Jones led Hawaii to an astonishing 12-0 regular season in 2007, earning the WAC championship. This success propelled the Warriors into the Bowl Championship Series, culminating in a Sugar Bowl contest against Georgia in January 2008.
The game ended in a 41-10 defeat, but the season remains a highlight in the program’s history. Shortly thereafter, Jones departed Hawaii due to contract disputes and took the head coaching position at Southern Methodist University.
At SMU, he revitalized a faltering program, guiding the Mustangs to four consecutive bowl appearances before stepping down in 2014. Jones also had a previous connection with Hawaii, having played as a quarterback for the team from 1973 to 1974, and he enjoyed a lengthy career in the NFL as a player and coach.
He served as head coach for the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996 and briefly stepped in as an interim head coach for the Chargers in 1998.
