June Jones, former Hawaiʻi and SMU football coach who was behind the Rainbow Warriors' perfect regular season in 2007, died at age 73.
His Run and Shoot Certification coaching program announced Jones' death Thursday, Oct. 29.
"June’s greatest legacy wasn’t the records, championships, or the offense. It was the people he believed in, the opportunities he gave, and the lives he forever changed," it said on social media
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Jones was a quarterback for Oregon, Hawaiʻi and Portland State, where he learned the run-and-shoot offense that focused heavily on passing. He was an assistant at the professional level until he got his first head coaching job with Hawaiʻi in 1999.
He brought the run-and-shoot offense to the Rainbow Warriors and turned them into an instant contender. After going 0-12 before he arrived, they went 9-4 in his first season for the best single season turnaround in NCAA history.
The excitement continued into Jones' tenure as his teams were annually among the best passing units in the country, including quarterback Timmy Chang becoming the all-time NCAA leader in passing yardage.
His best season came in 2007, where behind Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan, Hawaiʻi went 12-0 for the first undefeated regular season in school history, captivating the islands and filling up Aloha Stadium. Hawaiʻi appeared in its first BCS Bowl game in the Sugar Bowl, losing to Georgia 41-10.
In nine seasons, Hawaiʻi went to six bowl games and had 10-plus win seasons as he produced five All-Americans, 52 all-conference performers and 16 NFL draft picks.
"A leader, coach, mentor and innovator who helped bring Hawai'i Football to unprecedented heights," Hawaiʻi said on social media. "Rest In Aloha, June Jones."
After the record season, Jones coached at SMU from 2008-14, leading the Mustangs to four bowl games during his tenure. He then spent time coaching at various levels of football, from the Canadian Football League to the XFL.
Jones' offensive innovation spread across the country with ideas and play designs reminsicent of his coaching philosophy.
As a college football coach, Jones went 112–84 with two conference titles at Hawaiʻi and the winningest coach in Rainbow Warriors football history with 76 wins, inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor in 2024.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: June Jones dies at 73: Run-and-shoot innovator changed Hawaii football forever
