Longtime football coach Jones, pioneer of run-and-shoot offense, dies at 73 — SkimNews
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- June Jones helped popularize the run-and-shoot offense in college and pro football, learning it from Mouse Davis at Portland State and later implementing it across multiple programs.
- University of Hawai'i confirmed Jones' death and honored his legacy as its all-time winningest head coach with a 76-41 record from 1999 to 2007.
- Hawai'i reached the Sugar Bowl in 2007 under Jones after a 12-0 start, marking the program’s first BCS bowl appearance and a historic comeback against Washington.
- Timmy Chang, now Hawai'i’s head coach, credited Jones as a father figure who gave him the chance to run the run-and-shoot and guided his transition into coaching.
- SMU credited Jones with restoring its football tradition by leading the Mustangs to four straight bowl games and back-to-back division titles after the NCAA 'death penalty'.
- Atlanta Falcons named Jones head coach from 1994 to 1996 after he served as their offensive coordinator, marking his first NFL head coaching role.
Why it matters: Jones’ innovative offense reshaped offensive play at multiple levels, and his revival of Hawai'i and SMU programs gave long-downtrodden programs sustained success, directly impacting generations of players and coaches who now carry forward his system and mentorship model.
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