Hawaii coach June Jones dies at 73 after 76-41 career

June Jones, the architect of the Rainbow Warriors' most famous era, died on Thursday. He was 73. The coach who transformed Hawaii football with his high-speed passing attack left behind a legacy defined by a 76-41 record and a 12-0 regular season in 2007.

Hawaii's football program issued a statement confirming the death but did not specify a cause. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a close family friend said Jones had entered hospice care in Oregon two weeks prior. He was born in the state, though he played college quarterback at three different schools before transferring to Portland State.

Jones developed his offensive philosophy under Mouse Davis at Portland State. Davis is credited with introducing the run-and-shoot offense to major college football. The system relied on four wide receivers who adjusted routes on the fly, minimal rushing attempts, and a fast tempo. While coaches like Jerry Glanville and Wayne Fontes used the scheme, Jones achieved the highest level of success with it.

His professional career began in the NFL during the 1980s as a backup quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. He moved into coaching as an assistant for the Houston Oilers in 1987 alongside quarterback Warren Moon. In 1991, he returned to Atlanta with Jerry Glanville and took over as head coach after Glanville was dismissed. With quarterback Jeff George, Jones led the Falcons to a playoff appearance, but he was fired after three seasons as the defensive unit struggled to manage the time of possession.

After a brief interim stint with the San Diego Chargers, Jones returned to Hawaii in 1999. The Warriors had finished the previous season with a 0-12 record. Jones guided the team to a 9-4 season that ended with a win in the Oahu Bowl. His most celebrated campaign occurred in 2007, when Colt Brennan led the offense to a 12-0 start and a spot in the Sugar Bowl. Hawaii lost that game to Georgia 41-10.

Timmy Chang, the current Hawaii coach, described Jones as a mentor and a father figure. Chang set an NCAA record for career passing yards under Jones. "He believed in a young kid from Hawaii and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to run his offense," Chang said. The Falcons also released a statement calling Jones a visionary in the passing game.

Jones later coached at SMU, where he posted a 36-43 record over six seasons. He remained a prominent figure in Hawaii, a state where football often competed with surfing and golf for attention. Governor Josh Green praised Jones as an exceptional human being and a motivator who won big moments for the islands. "He won big moments for us, and that put us into the spotlight," Green said.