June Jones, the innovative football coach who popularized the run-and-shoot offense at the college and NFL levels, died Thursday at age 73, according to his Run and Shoot Certification company.
Jones began his coaching career after playing under offensive coordinator Mouse Davis, who introduced him to the pass-heavy system. He worked through the USFL and CFL before becoming head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996.
His greatest impact came at the University of Hawaii, where he took over a program on an 18-game losing streak in 1999 and immediately led the Rainbow Warriors to a 9-4 record and a share of the WAC title — the biggest turnaround in college football history at the time. Over nine seasons, Jones compiled a 76-41 record, won two WAC championships, and guided Hawaii to a historic 12-1 season in 2007, culminating in a Sugar Bowl appearance against Georgia.
Quarterbacks Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan flourished under Jones, with Chang finishing as college football's all-time leading passer with 17,000 yards and Brennan ranking among the top 15.
After a contract dispute, Jones moved to SMU in 2008, inheriting a 1-11 team. By his second year, he delivered the Mustangs' first winning season in 12 years, laying the foundation for the program's eventual return to power-conference relevance. He finished with a 112-84 college record.
Jones later coached in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and in the XFL with the Houston Roughnecks, going 5-0 in the latter. He also coordinated offenses in The Spring League and at the Hawaii high school level. His career honors include national coach of the year in 1999 and three conference coach of the year awards.
In a statement, his Run and Shoot Certification organization said: "June's greatest legacy wasn't the records, championships or offense. It was the people he believed in, the opportunities he gave and the lives he forever changed."
