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The University of Hawaii football program experienced a transformative period under the leadership of June Jones, whose coaching career is chronicled in a series of photographs spanning from his appointment in 1998 to his later years. The visual timeline begins on December 14, 1998, when UH president Ken Mortimer presented Jones with a Rainbow Warriors baseball cap and Governor Ben Cayetano stood by with an aloha shirt during a reception at Washington Place. That same day, Jones addressed the media in the dining room, with Governor Cayetano and UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida listening intently.
Early practice sessions and games are documented, such as Jones greeting NFL player Chandler at the Ihilani Resort on February 3, 1999, and the spring practice at Cooke Field on March 29, 1999. The coach's reactions, both celebratory and frustrated, are captured: a blown play on September 4, 1999, and a discussion with offensive lineman Dustin Owen on September 11, 1999. Jones' second victory of the season on September 19, 1999, and his visible frustration with officiating during a loss to Rice on October 10, 1999, are also included.
Off the field, Jones engaged with state leaders, conversing with Senate President Norman Mizuguchi before the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature on January 19, 2000. A marketing deal for UH athletics was unveiled on June 22, 2000, featuring Jones alongside Jim Donovan, Leigh Steinberg, and Hugh Yoshida. Jones also showed pride in a new helmet design on July 26, 2000.
Emotional highs are highlighted, including a 72-45 victory over BYU on December 8, 2001, where quarterback Nick Rolovich hugged Jones as UH president Evan Dobelle looked on. The senior walk ceremony that same day and a conversation with Timmy Chang and Shawn Withy-Allen on November 23, 2002, are also captured. Pre-bowl activities included a talk under the USS Missouri's guns on December 21, 2002, leading up to the Hawaii Bowl.
Jones' strategic interactions with players are evident, such as conferring with Timmy Chang during the 2003 Hawaii Bowl and huddling with Jeremiah Cockerhan, Chad Owens, Gerald Welch, and Britton Komine against UTEP on October 25, 2003. The coach was also seen watching a game against Fresno State on October 11, 2003, and walking onto the field before a matchup with Northwestern on November 27, 2004. The team's alma mater after a game against Nevada on October 9, 2004, and a sideline talk with Colt Brennan during a timeout against San Diego State on December 3, 2005, are included.
The pinnacle of Jones' tenure is marked by the 2007 season: a press conference on December 31, 2007, at the New Orleans Marriott, where Jones and Georgia coach Mark Richt posed with the Sugar Bowl trophy. On November 23, 2007, Jones and Herman Frazier held up the WAC trophy after a win over Boise State that clinched the conference title. That same game saw Jones conversing with Colt Brennan. A dousing after a 35-28 comeback win over Washington on December 1, 2007, is also shown. The sobering 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2008, is captured as Jones and the Warriors watched the final moments.
Later images show Jones as SMU coach accepting the 2009 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl trophy after a 45-10 win over Nevada on December 24, 2009. Finally, two photos from March 20, 2022, depict a ceremony at Waikiki Beach honoring former UH quarterback Colt Brennan, who died in May 2021; Jones is remembered as the coach during Brennan's era.
Key Analysis
The photographs underscore June Jones' profound influence on Hawaii football, from his energetic introduction to the program's high point in the 2007 Sugar Bowl season. His ability to connect with players like Colt Brennan and navigate both triumphs and setbacks is evident. The timeline also reflects the broader cultural and community engagement, from political receptions to memorials, illustrating how Jones' legacy extends beyond the field.
Originally reported by staradvertiser.