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Jones-UH contract Contract renegotiations between June Jones and the University of Hawaii have broken down. But the football coach will remain at the helm of the Warriors team at least one more season, his agent told the Star-Bulletin yesterday.
dealings sacked
Renegotiations fail after
both sides are unable to reach
a salary consensusBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com
"We've stopped those discussions," Leigh Steinberg said. "We were not able to come to any consensus."
Jones' total compensation package is around $400,000 a season. He has two years left on a five-year contract.
After the Warriors went 9-3 last season, Steinberg is believed to have asked for an increase in Jones' pay that would put him among the 10 highest-paid college coaches in the country. The university came back with a counteroffer which was rejected.
No future negotiations are on the immediate horizon, Steinberg said.
"June's turned his focus to preparing the team for another season," he said. "He plans to stay at least one more year. He has two years left on the contract, but there is an out clause."
Jones did not immediately return a call from the Star-Bulletin.
Athletic Director Hugh Yoshida said he regrets UH could not meet Steinberg's proposal.
"We want to have June as our coach for the long term. The university made a substantial offer that we felt comfortable with. June is worth every penny of their proposal, but we're so far apart," Yoshida said. "This is not something we wanted to happen, but this is probably the best temporary solution for all parties involved. We have to do what's best for the university."
Jones has been the subject of rampant speculation regarding other college and professional coaching jobs the past three months. Earlier this week, he was reported as a candidate for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' opening. Jones said he was not contacted by the Bucs. Jones also said he was not contacted by the Georgia Tech administration, although he was rumored to have been offered the Yellow Jackets' job last December.
He has continually said he does not want to leave the Hawaii position but will listen to other offers.
Jones has also said that facility upgrades and university control of Aloha Stadium, which is now under state domain, are important considerations for him to remain at UH. Several state legislators have voiced support for such a change.
"The stadium issue is something we'd like to see happen, and we're working along those lines, but that's out of our control," Yoshida said.
In 1999, Jones returned to UH, where he previously played and was an assistant coach. In his first season for the Warriors, the former Atlanta Falcons head coach and San Diego Chargers interim head coach was named national coach of the year after leading Hawaii to the biggest turnaround in college football history.
His overall record at Hawaii is 21-16.
Off the field, Jones, 48, made front-page news headlines when he nearly died in a one-car accident on the H-1 freeway last Feb. 22. He recovered in time to lead the Warriors last fall to a winning season.
"We are hopeful that when the negotiations continue again, they will come to a positive resolution," said Paul Costello, chief spokesman for the university. "President Dobelle is very determined June will remain as head coach."
Neither Yoshida nor Costello would comment on specifics of the proposals.
University of Hawaii
