The man who turned a struggling Rainbow Warriors program into a national contender has passed away.
Key points
- June Jones amassed 76 wins at Hawaii, making him the program's winningest modern‑era coach.
- His 1999 team achieved the biggest single‑season turnaround in NCAA history and earned him national Coach of the Year honors.
- The Run‑and‑Shoot offense he popularized produced Heisman finalist Colt Brennan and 16 NFL draft selections.
- Following his Hawaii tenure, Jones coached at SMU, a high school, and the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons, and held NFL coaching and playing roles.
June Jones, the former head coach of the University of Hawaii football program, died on Thursday at the age of 73, according to multiple reports.
Jones is remembered as the winningest coach in the modern era of Hawaii football, compiling 76 victories over nine seasons from 1999 to 2007 and guiding the Rainbow Warriors to six bowl appearances and three seasons with ten or more wins.
Career highlights at Hawaii
His 1999 squad posted a 9‑4 record, the largest single‑season turnaround in NCAA history, shared the Western Athletic Conference title and earned Jones national Coach of the Year honors; a decade later, his 2007 team went 12‑0 in the regular season and earned a berth in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Under Jones’s Run‑and‑Shoot offense, quarterback Colt Brennan became a Heisman Trophy finalist, and Jones coached five All‑Americans, 52 all‑conference players and 16 athletes who were selected in the NFL Draft.
Post‑Hawaii coaching and playing career
After leaving Hawaii, Jones served as head coach at Southern Methodist University from 2008 until his resignation in 2014, later took the offensive coordinator job at Kapolei High School in 2016, and most recently worked as offensive coordinator for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons; he also spent three years coaching in the NFL and played professionally as a quarterback in both the NFL and CFL.
Reader questions
When did June Jones pass away?
June Jones died at age 73 on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as reported by multiple sources.
What were his major achievements while coaching at Hawaii?
He recorded 76 wins, secured two WAC titles (1999, 2007), led the team to six bowl games, posted a 12‑0 regular season in 2007, and earned national Coach of the Year honors after the 1999 turnaround.
What roles did Jones hold after leaving the University of Hawaii?
He was head coach at Southern Methodist University (2008‑2014), offensive coordinator at Kapolei High School (2016), offensive coordinator for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons, and spent three years coaching in the NFL; he also played as a quarterback in the NFL and CFL.
Source: hawaiinewsnow.com
