Hawai'i football coach June Jones dies at 73

June Jones, the architect of the run-and-shoot offense that defined the modern era of Hawaiian football, died on Thursday. He was 73. The death concludes a career that reshaped the sport in Honolulu and left a lasting mark on the Pacific coast.

Hawai'i's football program issued a statement confirming the death but did not specify a cause. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that a close family friend said Jones had entered hospice care in his native Oregon two weeks before his passing.

Jones is best known for his time as head coach at the University of Hawai'i from 1999 to 2008. Upon his arrival, the Rainbow Warriors had just finished a winless 0-12 season. Jones reversed that trajectory, guiding the team to a 9-4 record and a victory in the Oahu Bowl that year. Over nine seasons, he compiled a 76-41 record, making him the winningest coach in the university's history.

His most celebrated campaign occurred in 2007. Quarterback Colt Brennan led the offense to a 12-0 regular-season record, securing a spot in the Bowl Championship Series. In the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Hawai'i faced the Georgia Bulldogs and fell 41-10. Despite the loss, the season cemented Jones' reputation for installing an aggressive, pass-heavy system that prioritized speed and route variety over traditional running plays.

Before his tenure in Honolulu, Jones spent three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1990s. He took over from Jerry Glanville in 1991 and led the team to a playoff appearance. The Falcons released a statement Thursday describing Jones as a visionary in the passing game. He also served as an interim head coach for the San Diego Chargers after Gilbride was dismissed.

Timmy Chang, the current head coach at Hawai'i who played under Jones, remembered his mentor as a father figure and a visionary. Chang noted that Jones believed in his potential and gave him the opportunity to run the offense. Gov. Josh Green also paid tribute to Jones, calling him an exceptional human being who motivated young people and won big moments for the state.

Following his departure from Hawai'i, Jones coached at SMU for more than six years, finishing with a 36-43 record. He remains a prominent figure in the local sports community, where he was one of the most popular athletes in a region traditionally focused on surfing and golf.