Two weeks after former coach Todd Graham was blasted by players and parents in front of a state senate committee hearing, and one week after Graham resigned, the school and June Jones are now in a public spat over contract negotiations.
On Friday night, the school announced it couldn’t come to an agreement with Jones on a succession plan. Jones, a former UH player who served as head coach from 1999-2007, then said on Twitter he couldn’t possibly accept the terms offered.
“I am still interested in this job for the people of Hawaii but the job offered to me today there is no way I could accept with the conditions offered me …No coach in their right mind would accept!” Jones wrote in a tweet.
“Dictating who can be on my staff and only 2 year contract..What recruit would come if I was here for 2 years???..this has never been about money-but it is about giving me the ability to turn our program around and not have people tell me who is on my staff or how to coach my team.”
UH spokesperson Dan Meisenzahl held a news conference on Saturday to defend the school. He wouldn’t rule out that Jones could still get the job — something Jones said he’s still interested in — but he also criticized Jones’ public campaign to get the job.
“It’s about integrity, and Jones showed zero integrity for this process.” Meisenzahl said of Jones’ media comments.
Meisenzahl opened by calling Jones the greatest coach in Hawaii football history but said he held too much power in his previous stint, working as his own de facto athletic director, and that was a key reason the administration wanted to put parameters on his hiring. The contract length, which started at two years but was negotiated up to three, seemingly has to do with Jones’ age (68 years old) and a succession plan likely wouldn’t be in place with other candidates. But Meisenzahl said athletic department approval of assistant hires is required for any head coaching job.
Jones first met with UH on Wednesday, as did other candidates. There was a second meeting with Jones on Friday, and Meisenzahl said Jones got up and left after 30 minutes.
“Imagine what could have been accomplished if they put hours into that conversation,” he said. “Instead, Jones walked out and it went public.”
(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
Hawaii criticizes June Jones; says former coach has 'zero integrity' in news conference - The Athletic
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