The moments that made June Jones a football legend, from Hawaii to the Falcons and beyond
Falcons find playoff form
Jones became Atlanta’s head coach in 1994, succeeding Jerry Glanville. With Jeff George and Eric Metcalf leading the offense, the Falcons went 9-7 in 1995 and reached the playoffs for only the second time in 13 years.
Atlanta lost its wild-card game to Green Bay, 37-20. The team fell to 3-13 the following season, and Jones was fired; that campaign included a sideline argument between him and George.
Hawaii’s remarkable 2007 season
Jones coached Hawaii during a 2007 campaign that began with 12 straight wins. The Warriors won the Western Athletic Conference, reached No. 10 in the rankings and earned a Sugar Bowl matchup with fourth-ranked Georgia.
Quarterback Colt Brennan, a transfer from Colorado, threw 131 career touchdown passes, setting an FBS record later surpassed by five others. Georgia won the bowl 41-10, but Hawaii’s season remains a defining achievement of Jones’ tenure.
SMU returns to a bowl
SMU hired Jones in 2008 as it sought to end a long stretch without a winning season. The Mustangs went 1-11 in his first year, then improved to 8-4 in 2009 and finished second in Conference USA.
That season brought the program its first bowl berth since 1984. SMU defeated Nevada 45-10 in the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu, a place Jones knew well.
An unbeaten XFL start ends early
Jones took charge of the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL’s 2020 season and led the team to a 5-0 start. The league halted its season midway through because of COVID-19.
Though the team’s unbeaten run ended without a completed season, Jones received XFL Coach of the Year honors. Across his career, his use of the run-and-shoot helped popularize the offense from professional football to the college game.
Key points
- Jones coached the Falcons to a 9-7 record and playoff berth in 1995.
- Hawaii started 12-0 in 2007, won the WAC and reached the Sugar Bowl.
- SMU earned its first bowl berth since 1984 during Jones’ second season.
- The Houston Roughnecks opened 2020 with five wins before the XFL stopped play.