June Jones, pioneering Hawaii coach, dies at 73

The former University of Hawaii head coach and NFL veteran June Jones died after entering hospice care earlier this month.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:24:24 GMT

Legendary former University of Hawaii head coach June Jones died at age 73, sources reported on Thursday.

What happened

Jones entered hospice care earlier in October after doctors discovered a tumor while treating back pain, according to the Honolulu Star‑Advertiser as cited by the New York Post. He died later that month, with the University of Hawaii confirming his passing on Thursday.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report noted that the university described Jones as “a leader, coach, mentor and innovator who helped bring Hawai‘i Football to unprecedented heights.” The outlet also quoted Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang, who said Jones impacted the football community with his words, kindness and love. The Atlanta Falcons, where Jones played and later coached, posted a tribute calling him “a visionary in the passing game.” The New York Post added that Jones played four seasons with the Falcons (1977‑81), appearing in 17 games and starting five, before moving into coaching.

What was said

Timmy Chang told reporters, “I know a lot of people around our football community that he really impacted, just with his words, his kindness, his love,” as reported by Bleacher Report. The Falcons wrote on X, “A visionary in the passing game. Coach Jones will be remembered with gratitude for his contributions to our organization and the lasting impact he made on those he coached and mentored.” Former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman that Jones “entered hospice care earlier this month after doctors discovered a tumor while treating him for back pain.”

How it came about

Jones rose to prominence as a pro‑style quarterback at Oregon, Hawaii and Portland State before going undrafted. He spent four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and later coached at the University of Hawaii, where he popularized the run‑and‑shoot offense. His success led to NFL head‑coaching roles with the Falcons (1994‑96) and a stint as interim head coach of the Chargers in 1998 before returning to Hawaii, where he amassed 76 wins over nine seasons (1999‑2007). Felo’s earlier coverage of college‑football coaching trends, such as the 2026 College Football Coaches Facing Job Pressure article, highlighted Jones’s influence on offensive strategy.

Key facts

June Jones died at age 73 (bleacherreport.com)
Jones entered hospice care earlier in October after a tumor was found (nypost.com)
He played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (1977‑81) (nypost.com)
University of Hawaii described him as a leader, coach, mentor and innovator (bleacherreport.com)
Timmy Chang quoted saying Jones impacted the football community with his kindness (bleacherreport.com)