June Jones, Hawaii football legend and run-and-shoot pioneer, dies at 73

June Jones, the coach who transformed Hawaii football with his aggressive passing style, died on Thursday at the age of 73.

Hawaii’s football program announced the death in a statement but did not specify a cause. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that a close family friend said Jones had entered hospice care in Oregon, his state of birth, approximately two weeks before his death.

Jones is widely credited for adapting the run-and-shoot offense to major college football. He learned the system while playing quarterback at Portland State under head coach Mouse Davis. The offense emphasized four wide receivers, limited running plays, and rapid adjustments to routes. Jones later refined the strategy during his tenure in the National Football League and at the University of Hawaii.

His career in the NFL included three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1990s. The Falcons described him in a Thursday statement as a visionary in the passing game. Jones took over the team after Jerry Glanville was fired. The Falcons made one playoff appearance during his three-year tenure, but his defense struggled with the physical demands of the high-tempo offense.

After a brief interim period with the San Diego Chargers, Jones returned to Hawaii in 1999. The Warriors had finished the previous season with a record of 0-12. Jones led the team to a 9-4 record that year and a victory in the Oahu Bowl. He remained the winningest coach in Hawaii history with a career record of 76-41.

The program’s peak came in 2007. Quarterback Colt Brennan led the offense to a 12-0 regular season, securing a spot in the Bowl Championship Series. The Rainbow Warriors played in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and lost to Georgia by a score of 41-10.

Timmy Chang, the current head coach at Hawaii, played under Jones and set the NCAA record for career passing yards during that era. Chang said Jones was a father figure, a mentor, and a visionary who revolutionized the game. Chang noted that Jones believed in a young player from Hawaii and provided him the opportunity to run the offense.

Jones later coached at SMU, where he compiled a record of 36-43 over more than six years. He remained a popular figure in Hawaii despite living on the mainland. Governor Josh Green called Jones an exceptional human being and a motivator of young people. Green stated that Jones won big moments for the state, placing it in the national spotlight.

Jones’ games often began late in the evening for fans on the East Coast, providing late-night entertainment for viewers across the country. His departure from Hawaii followed his stint at SMU, but his influence on the island’s sports culture persisted long after he left the island.