More details out of Dallas regarding one of the more… curious, I suppose you would say… rumors of the college football coaching carosel.
According to the Dallas Morning News, SMU has let it be known that they are prepared to offer Hawaii HC June Jones between $1.7 million and $2 million per year and Jones will interview with the Mustangs tomorrow in Dallas.
…[June Jone's agent Leigh] Steinberg on Friday confirmed that he and Jones are in discussions with SMU. Steinberg said Jones received permission from Hawaii to explore other options shortly before Christmas. Steinberg handled the discussions as Jones was preparing Hawaii for the Sugar Bowl. Talks have picked up since Hawaii’s season ended with a 41-10 loss to Georgia.
Jones “does have an interest in exploring the discussion,” Steinberg said. “We’re on a reasonably rapid timeframe.”
Jones met with both the Hawaii AD and UH president today, but its unclear if his SMU interview was scheduled before or after his UH meetings.
The Honolulu Advertiser reports that Jones also has been contacted by an unnamed NFL team.
The DMN reports that Hawaii has made an offer to extend Jones’ contract, but the details of the proposal have not been released. Jones’ salary, which is set to expire June 30, is $800,016 per year.
For those sharing my line of thinking….
Get ready for a warm weekend! Temperatures will climb into the middle to upper 70s Saturday and Sunday which is 20 – 25 degrees above normal….
So… why would Jones leave Hawaii for SMU?
Money
While the Honolulu lifestyle certainly seems to fit Jones, can we all agree that there is a substantial difference between $2 million a year and $800K a year? SMU has laid the financial foundation to land a top-tier coach, including setting aside a wad of cash to pay assistants. While Jones himself has downplayed his salary, he has clamored for better pay for his assistants. Hawaii has a $2.2 million dollar annual athletic budget TOTAL. The Mustangs are ready and willing to spend money.
Facilities
With the exception of the pretty floral leis, there’s not much on the UH campus that would compare to most FBS facilities. The Warriors have an athletic facility that could best be described as “rickety”. In fact, several HIGH SCHOOLS in Texas boast better facilities. Meanwhile, SMU has a new stadium and athletic facilities that stack up favorably with schools many times their size.
Frustation
Jones has been asking for improvements and a larger commitment to the football program for several years. While UH has made some progress, the fact remains that true progress is still years away.
So… when you go with the numbers, it’s easy to see that the SMU may be barking up the right tree at the right time. However, what you can’t factor is Jones’ relationship with the Hawaiian people.
Before Jones arrived, the only UH sport that received any sizable following was women’s volleyball. But Jones has converted the island and the Hawaiians have the Warriors coach. He is a beloved celebrity in Hawaii and has created a passion for football. Prior to the June Jones revolution, it’s almost impossible to imagine fans traveling to the “mainland” for a bowl game. But there they were in New Orleans (and in pretty respectable numbers).
It’s hard to weigh that sense of belonging, but you can be certain that Jones will.
Source: June Jones to interview at SMU
