June Jones, Innovative Football Coach, Dies at 73
The former NFL and college coach was known for popularizing the run-and-shoot offense and revitalizing the University of Hawaii program.
June Jones, a pioneering football coach celebrated for his innovative use of the run-and-shoot offense and for transforming the University of Hawaii's program, has died at the age of 73. A family friend confirmed Jones had been in hospice care for the two weeks leading up to his passing.
Jones, a native of Portland, Oregon, had a significant impact on college football during his eight years coaching the Hawaii Warriors. Taking over a team that had gone winless the previous season, he quickly turned them into a competitive force. Within a year, Hawaii achieved a 9-4 record and tied for the conference lead. The team's success culminated in a 12-0 season in 2007, ending with a Sugar Bowl appearance.
Under Jones, Hawaii secured six bowl game invitations and two Western Athletic Conference titles. Quarterback Colt Brennan achieved Heisman Trophy finalist status in 2006, a testament to the effectiveness of Jones' offensive system. Brennan died in 2021 at the age of 37.
Before his successful tenure at Hawaii, Jones also coached the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996. The team released a statement mourning his death, calling him a "visionary in the passing game" and acknowledging his "lasting impact on those he coached and mentored."
The run-and-shoot offense, which Jones helped popularize, relies on spreading defenses with three or four receivers and emphasizes short, high-percentage passes with routes that can be adjusted on the fly. This offensive approach was significantly influenced by his work with quarterbacks like Warren Moon on the Houston Oilers in the late 1980s.
Hal Mumme, a former college coach and contemporary, described Jones as a pioneer. "Nobody was throwing the football like that" in the 1980s, Mumme told The Athletic. "He was the leader of it. Everybody wanted to know what June was doing, and how he was doing it. He was a technician."
Jones' coaching career also included a stint at SMU, where he left in 2014. He later coached several XFL teams before retiring from coaching in 2023. His career record includes 22 wins and 36 losses as an NFL head coach, and 112 wins and 84 losses at the college level. He is survived by his wife, Diane, and their four children.