June Jones-UH dispute heads to mediation

The University of Hawaii and former football coach June Jones will attempt to resolve a contract dispute through mediation.

UH is seeking payment of $400,008 from Jones due to a clause in his final UH contract that called for the penalty if he left the school prior to the end of his five-year deal. Jones resigned to take the head coaching job at Southern Methodist in January, close to six months before the contract was to expire.

The process began yesterday with a pre-mediation meeting. Mediation begins June 9 with Clyde Matsui, a prominent local attorney, serving as the mediator.

Jones' contract stipulated that disputes would be resolved through arbitration. But UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said Jones' representatives suggested going to mediation and the school agreed. The matter will go to binding arbitration if the parties are unable to reach an agreement.

Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg, has contended that Jones and former athletic director Herman Frazier had a verbal agreement that the coach would be free to accept another job without penalty. Jones' contract states that "terms between the parties may be amended only in writing signed by both parties."