College football: June Jones says he will apply for Hawaii job

The winningest coach in Hawaii history is throwing his hat into the ring for the school’s freshly opened head coaching gig.

June Jones will apply to replace Norm Chow as the head coach of the Rainbow Warriors, the Honolulu Star Advertiser confirmed on Tuesday.

Chow — who was relieved of his duties on Nov. 1 — was 10-36 in his four seasons with the Rainbow Warriors, including a 2-7 record this year after a 58-7 loss to Air Force on Saturday.

Jones surely won’t be the only candidate, but will likely be the one who generates the most buzz.

From 1999 to 2007, Jones racked up a 76-41 record as Hawaii’s skipper, including a 12-0 regular season in 2007 behind the arm of Heisman candidate Colt Brennan. That run eventually led to a loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl — Jones’ final game with UH.

Seven of Jones’ nine seasons at Manoa ended with a winning record. The current edition of the Rainbow Warriors were assured a fifth consecutive losing season — four of those under Chow — after Saturday’s lopsided loss.

Jones is no stranger to taking over bad Hawaii teams. During his first run with the Rainbow Warriors, Jones took over a winless team and led Hawaii to a 9–4 record and a share of the WAC title.

The 62-year-old Jones began his coaching career as a quarterbacks coach at Hawaii in 1983 and also played quarterback for UH in the early 70s.

Jones most recently coached at SMU from 2008-14, qualifying for a bowl game four times. Jones abruptly left the Mustangs in 2014, citing personal issues. He finished his tenure in Dallas with a 36-43 record.

According to reports, Chow will receive upwards of $300,000 for being relieved as Hawaii’s head coach. He took over the program in 2012. Assistant/offensive line coach Chris Naeole is the interim head coach for the rest of the season.

The Rainbow Warriors play UNLV on Saturday.