Jones named SMU coach

Jan 8, 2008 - 12:01 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- After nine years at Hawaii, June Jones is ready to take on another huge challenge.

Jones was officially introduced as SMU's coach during a news conference at the school Monday afternoon, completing a stunning turn of events.

SMU did not announce terms of the contract, but ESPN.com reported it to be a five-year deal worth close to $2 million per season.

"The commitment made by the university, the groundwork laid by my predecessors, the facilities - everything we need to be successful is here," Jones said. "It's clear that everyone at SMU is on the same page. Everyone has that hunger."

Jones achieved hero status at Hawaii while building the program virtually from scratch. But he resigned his post on Saturday, citing a lack of loyalty and commitment from the school, according to The Honolulu Advertiser.

Jones hinted at the apparent problems that arose at Hawaii.

"Any place I've ever been, it's the we factor, it's the team factor, that's the most important thing," he said. "You can have the best talent in the world you can have the best front office in the pros, but if you don't have everbody on the same page, you're beat before you go on the field."

Following a 12-stint as an NFL assistant, Jones took over a Hawaii program in 1999 that went 0-12 the previous season and won nine games in his first year.

He built the Warriors into a contender in the Western Athletic Athletic Conference, culminating with the best season in school history in 2007.

Led by record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan, Hawaii completed a 12-0 regular season before losing to Georgia, 41-10, in the Sugar Bowl. Hawaii captured its initial outright WAC title and earned its first BCS bowl berth.

The Warriors made a final attempt over the weekend to keep Jones, with Hawaii governor Linda Lingle even getting involved.

According to the Hawaii Advertiser, Hawaii countered with a five-year contract worth $1.3 million annually, which fell short of SMU's reported offer.

SMU is the last school in the Football Bowl Subdivision to fill a coaching vacancy. It had been without a coach since Phil Bennett was fired in October after six seasons with the Mustangs.

As he did at Hawaii, Jones will be faced with the prospect of trying to build a program virtually from the ground floor.

Although SMU produced such college football legends as Doak Walker, Don Meredith and Eric Dickerson, the program never has fully recovered since coming of the NCAA-imposed "death penalty" in 1989.

Over the past 18 seasons, SMU posted a record of 58-153-3, including a 1-11 mark in 2007. The Mustangs were 0-8 in Conference USA.

"As a head coach, June Jones excels at building football programs and SMU is committed to rebuilding its football program," SMU athletic director Steve Orsini said. ""I truly believe that we will be successful in reaching our goals with coach Jones as our leader."

Jones leaves Hawaii as the winningest coach in school history, posting a 76-41 record in his nine seasons. His teams won or shared two WAC crowns and made six bowl appearances.

While at Hawaii, Jones developed Timmy Chang and Brennan into two of the most prolific quarterbacks in NCAA history while directing the Warriors' pass-happy attack. Brennan set an NCAA record with 131 touchdown passes.