HONOLULU — June Jones, the legendary University of Hawaii football coach who transformed the Rainbow Warriors into a national powerhouse, revolutionized the program with his high-powered run-and-shoot offense and led the school to an undefeated regular season and historic Sugar Bowl appearance, died Thursday. He was 73.
The University of Hawaii announced that Jones died Thursday morning in Oregon. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Jones, who coached Hawaii from 1999 to 2007, leaves behind one of the most remarkable legacies in the history of college football in the islands. He inherited a program coming off a winless season and turned it into a nationally recognized contender, compiling a 76-41 record over nine seasons and becoming the winningest coach in school history.
His greatest achievement came in 2007, when Hawaii completed a perfect 12-0 regular season behind quarterback Colt Brennan, captured the Western Athletic Conference championship and earned the program's first Bowl Championship Series appearance in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.
Although Hawaii lost 41-10 to Georgia on Jan. 1, 2008, the season remains one of the most celebrated accomplishments in the university's athletic history.
Jones' impact extended far beyond wins and losses. His innovative offensive system turned Aloha Stadium into one of college football's most exciting venues and helped produce some of the most prolific quarterbacks in NCAA history, including Brennan and Timmy Chang.
Chang, who became the NCAA's career passing leader while playing for Jones and later returned to Hawaii as head coach, remembered his former coach as a mentor who changed his life.
"Words can't express the sorrow I feel today," Chang said in a statement released by the university. "Coach Jones was a father figure, a mentor, and a visionary who revolutionized the game."
Jones' arrival in 1999 immediately changed the direction of Hawaii football. The Rainbow Warriors had finished 0-12 the previous season, but Jones guided them to a 9-4 record, a share of the WAC championship and a victory in the Oahu Bowl. The turnaround was the greatest single-season improvement in NCAA history at the time.
Over the next eight seasons, Jones established Hawaii as one of the nation's most entertaining offensive programs, leading the Rainbow Warriors to six bowl appearances, two conference championships and three seasons with at least 10 victories.
His success also helped elevate the careers of numerous players who went on to play professionally, while giving Hawaii football national exposure rarely experienced by the program before his arrival.
Jones' connection to Hawaii began decades earlier when he transferred from Oregon to play quarterback for the Rainbow Warriors in 1973. He later played at Portland State, where he learned the run-and-shoot offense under coach Mouse Davis, a system that would become the foundation of his coaching career.
Before returning to Hawaii as head coach, Jones spent several years in the NFL, including three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996 and a stint as interim head coach of the San Diego Chargers in 1998.
Following his historic tenure at Hawaii, Jones left for Southern Methodist University in 2008, where he coached through the early portion of the 2014 season. He also held coaching positions in other professional leagues.
Despite coaching across the country, Jones remained closely associated with Hawaii and the program he helped rebuild. His influence continued through former players who entered coaching, including Chang, who became the Rainbow Warriors' head coach in 2022.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green remembered Jones as someone whose influence extended throughout the state.
"June was an exceptional human being," Green said in a statement. "He was a motivator of young people and he was a winner. He won big moments for us, and that put us into the spotlight."
For generations of Hawaii football fans, Jones represented more than a successful coach. He helped restore pride in a struggling program, made the Rainbow Warriors nationally relevant and created memories that remain deeply connected to the state's sports identity.
His 2007 team, along with Jones and Brennan individually, was inducted into the University of Hawaii's Circle of Honor, recognizing a remarkable era that forever changed expectations for the football program.
The university said information regarding memorial services and opportunities to honor Jones will be announced in the coming days.