Essay: The Real Story Behind JJ's Departure from Hawaii

[MrMustang1965]

next time you think SMU has 'problems', refer to this article for a dose of reality.

by Malia Zimmerman

Granted, I am no sports reporter, I am just a University of Hawaii Warrior football fan who has attended nearly all of the Hawaii-played games over the last decade. I can’t spout statistics, name all of the UH football players, or give blow-by-blow recounts of important plays as well as my 12-year-old son and his sports fanatic friends can. But the decision by June Jones to resign as head football coach of the Warrior football team to take a job with the privately-run Southern Methodist University in Texas isn’t a sports story per say – it is one about a failure of our state government and state-run University of Hawaii. And unfortunately the June Jones departure story is symbolic of so many other problems we have in Hawaii due to our government officials’ incompetence, ignorance and arrogance.

Let’s put aside the fact that Jones gets at least $1 million more a year from the all private SMU Mustangs than he would at the publicly run University of Hawaii where he currently receives around $800,000 annually (and would get around $1.2 million a year if he stayed). Put this aside because salary wouldn’t even be a factor if Athletic Department Director Herman Frazier had secured a contract renewal with Jones last year before the season started as any experienced college athletic director would have.

Based on the successful 2006 Warrior season, Frazier should have foreseen a great 2007 season as soon as UH star quarterback Colt Brennan along with other stars like wide receivers Jason Rivers and Devon Bess opted to stay in Hawaii one more year to play for the Warriors. He should have noticed that the cost to hire well-reputed college football coaches is going up, not down. He should have paid attention when other schools scouted Jones more than a year ago. Put these three factors together and that adds up to the importance of jumping right on negotiations with a coach that has a terrific track record and a knack for working with young people.

In his own recent private letter to close friends, Jones says: “It is been very hard the last few days thinking about the decision to leave a place that I love greatly -- but you and I have talked many times about things that have concerned me -- None of those things that concerned me were addressed in this offer... I guess all I can say is that the way my contract talks have been handled, is kind of the reason I am tired and why I just need to go. He (Herman Frazier) says it is a generous offer. But, it would have meant a lot to me, had this offer come after the bowl game last year or even before the season -- or had it come to me as late as the Washington game it would have said to me 'thanks June for a job well done.’ There would have been no negotiating -- I probably would have signed it and never let it get to this point.â€

[Statler]

MM, you stole Darth's thunder..Darth was just about to post UH (and we ain't talkin' Houston) problems, then you had to go and find this article...

Anway...to the General, if you think we have a militant faculty...OMG...Hawaii is PC gone amok....

Darth still has tired head from the "upper campus" vs "lower campus" talk....Maybe our new found friend Dr. Death can help us.

Anyway as previously posted....thank the carpet gods for us now having JJ!

[ThadFilms]

That was a telling, and damning statement. Well put.



Not that we have the problems that they have, BUT it's marvelous that Jones knows that we are on the right track!

[Irse]

Here is a copy of the letter he submitted to the AD

Text of June Jones’ e-mail to Herman Frazier on Friday

Here is the full, unedited text of e-mail June Jones sent last week to Herman Frazier. Jones used ellipses (...) throughout:

Herman,

Wanted to say thank you for your offer that you forwarded to Leigh yesterday ... I was glad that we finally had something to compare with the offer SMU has made in the last few days ... I am sorry for the time sensitivity involved ... but one of the jobs when you gave Leigh permission to talk was to compare to other schools the offers involved ... unfortunately the commitment from them and the timing as always is not good for everyone in these situations ... SMU has made an offer almost double what you just sent to Leigh ... as I have said to you before it is not about money with me but this time ... I must admit it is a factor as I see this as my last contract ... but it is not the only factor ... it has been very hard the last few days thinking about the decision to leave a place that I love greatly ... but you and I have talked many times about things that have concerned me ... none of those things that concerned me were addressed in this offer ... although the past 24 hours everyone is addressing that I hope come true ... I had a great talk with the Chancellor (Virginia Hinshaw) prior to departure to the Sugar Bowl ... she is a great lady and has some ideas that will work here but I do not think it will happen in my five years and this is my last contract prior to retiring to Kona forever!!!!!!

I feel I am leaving this program in great shape ... we have players that can play for the next coach ... we should be very competitive to win another WAC Championship ... there are no really bad kids in this program ... even though some people will think me leaving is the end of the world ... you and I both know sometimes change is good ... you know this from experience ... the next guy will get everything that I have wanted as it will wake up those that have to make those decisions ...

I am dropping off a lot of things at your office that I found on my computer ... things that I have been through and written over the past nine years ... I reread all of them yesterday ... these are the only ones that I have saved and there must be 15 or 20 more that I did not save ... a lot that I have been through before you and some with you ... I am only sending these things along with my letter of resignation to you for one reason ... I know these things have to be priority for the school ... I believed them when I wrote them and they still need to be done ... and everyone needs to see the vision here ... take them for what they are worth ...

I also feel there is one thing that is very important and must be done so you can keep some continuity ... there are five coaches that I am convinced are all one of a kind people and I feel you need to extend their contracts so they can keep the transition from falling apart during this year's recruiting process ... and they will help and stabilize the exodus of some of the commitments that we already have ... these coaches need to be retained so the local connections stay strong ... without retaining what we have established here would be suicidal ... from a cost basis alone ... moving new coaches here ... finding guys that know Hawaii will be more costly to you ... and at the same time you will create some real loyalty to you as an AD as they know you do not have to do that ... all of the staff I have offered jobs to if and when I leave to SMU but KNOW they need to be in Hawaii ... and they have expressed to me they want to be here ...

The guys that need to be given a raise and extended ... are Rich Miano ... Ron Lee ... Cal Lee ... George Lumpkin ... and Jeff Reinebold ... they all are great coaches and people ... they all love Hawaii and know Hawaii and all the guys down below know them and would be fine with all of them ... by doing this you will create a positive atmosphere and you will create some unreal loyalty to you as AD and as the department which is vital right now ... as they know you do not have to do this ...

I know it is your call but I think there are really five guys that I think you should entertain as a replacement ... I have talked to them and they are interested ... I know you know a lot of people too that would be good but this place is different and unless you get someone that knows Hawaii you will take a big step backwards ...

1. Kevin Gilbride ... he knows Hawaii been here a lot but does not know like the guys below ... he is the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants ... has been a head coach at UConn and the Chargers ... Mike Cavanaugh is his brother in law and he would bring him back I am sure ... also Kevin knows the offense we are running and would continue to run it and you would not have a big drop off ...

2. [deleted] Tomey ... he would come and he would let Ron do the offense and would feel great about coming home ... Jeff ... Cal ... George ... and Rich he knows very well ... a lot of people here would love this choice.

3. Duane Akina ... assistant head coach at Texas ... local boy that wants to come home and his resume is a great one ... he is a great person.

4. Norm Chow ... you know his credentials ... will cost you more probably

5. Cal Lee ... local boy knows what we are doing and a winner ... Ron can continue to run offense and Cal knows Gregs stuff ... never been college head coach but is capable ...

I am heading to Dallas to meet with SMU today ... I talked to them on the phone Thursday morning for about two hours ... They have not offered me the job but Leigh said they would not have waited this long if they were not going to offer it when I get there and meet them ... this is a very hard decision for me but I feel it is best for me right now to go ... I appreciate all your support since you have gotten here and wish the University and you only the best ... I understand this puts you in a difficult situation but I know you and the school will survive and be fine ...

Thanks for your e-mail with an 11th hour new thought on the money ... Virginia did run out and grab me yesterday late as I was headed downtown and I told her to send it to Leigh, which I am sure you did ... I guess all I can say is that the way my contract talks have been handled ... is kind of the reason I am tired and why I just need to go ... all I can say is it a generous offer and if you or the higher ups had come to me with this offer before they HAD to make it ... it would have meant a lot to me ... had this offer come after the bowl game last year or even before the season ... or had it come to me as late as the Washington game it would have said to me ... "thanks June for a job well done" ... there would have been no negotiating ... and it would have said we want to do something for you because we see what you have done and accomplished ... I probably would have signed it and never let it get to this point ... and don't get me wrong here they all want me to stay I know ... and I know they all are good people ... but this is reactionary instead of visionary ...

But the fact of the matter is all of a sudden today people are running around trying to get this done at the last minute when SMU shows interest (in) me ... this just confirms to me and the system and the people that make these decisions don't really get it ... this past day they are all of a sudden saying all of the right things ... but actions speak louder than words ... I have sacrificed a lot these past nine years ... I made some bad decisions and fought some fights that were hard ones ... but I feel I made a lot of good decisions, too ... what we have accomplished I want to remember it that way ... let someone else fight the fights and live another day ...

I am tired ... I have been blessed to make the living I have and do it for the people of Hawaii whom I love ... it has been a blessing ... after 9 years this is a very difficult thing for me to do ... my closest friends in my life who I feel are my brothers and have kept me here ... they are family to me are not wanting me to go ... Artie ... Wesley ... Tony and Al talked to me for 4 hours last night ... John I call in Kona daily ... but I am worn out ... burnt out ... and just need to get revitalized with a new challenge and let someone else take what we have started and get it done ... and it can be done!!!! ... decisions have to be made quickly and need to be done correctly ... if the things that people are saying are really going to happen ... then it will keep going in the right direction ... I believe the next coach will be listened to more and the President and Chancellor and the Department will help in all the areas that need to be helped ... Hawaii will always have my heart and that is why this is so hard for me ... but just the fact I am going to get on that plane to Dallas today says it all ... it is time for me to do what I have never chosen to do before ... do what is best for me and my family for the future ... I do not want to go ... believe me ... but it is just time to go ...

Mahalo June

http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs ... 80344/1001

And another article that shows his loyalty and the ineptness of our AD.

The Warriors had finished 5-7 in 2005. But Jones believed the core of first-year starters — quarterback Colt Brennan, receivers Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins, defensive lineman Michael Lafaele, and linebackers Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian — would help lead the Warriors to the brink of a success.

To fulfill that potential, Jones felt, two moves were needed. Jones wanted to rehire Dennis McKnight, who left the program in 2000, to become the offensive line coach. Jones also wanted to create a fundraising position for his mentor, Darrell "Mouse" Davis, who had served as offensive assistant coach in 2005.

Jones approached Athletics Director Herman Frazier with a unique offer. Jones was entering the fourth season of a five-year contract in which he earned $800,016 annually, half of which was paid from donations.

Jones offered to sign a new five-year contract, taking a large pay cut that would reduce his annual salary to $500,000. The savings, Jones said, would be used to hire McKnight, create a non-coaching position for Davis, and boost the recruiting budget. The only stipulation was the deal needed to be completed in time for the start of spring practice in April.

Frazier rejected Jones' offer.

Well take care of JJ and he may sign another contract but as it looks, he may be gone after the five years are up. Depends on how tired he is.