Embodying a Warrior's spirit

June Jones and his University of Hawai'i football program have become one and the same — an aggressive, risk-taking bunch that plays without fear. Advertiser library photos

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

June Jones preaches belief in the system and trust in one another to his team, according to quarterback Tim Chang. Once you buy into it, "It makes it easier to go into battle," Chang says.

They play to their own rules, break them, then establish new ones.

They are not afraid, not even on foreign fields of battle.

Opponents "can smell fear," offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa said. "We don't let them. Warriors don't show fear."

Most of all, they are the image of their head coach, the University of Hawai'i's June Jones.

Like long-married couples who have grown to resemble each other, Jones and his UH football program have become one and the same.

"They take after their coach," Tulsa offensive lineman Austin Chadwick said, noting the aggressiveness is "part of their team personality. There's a special pride that team has. Maybe it's Warrior pride, or whatever, but you can see the guys who react to that so well."

UH quarterback Tim Chang noted that Jones "recruited us. He taught us. He molded us into the team he wanted."

Indeed, every player except defensive tackle Lui Fuga was recruited during Jones' UH tenure, which began in December 1998, a month after Fred vonAppen was fired following an 0-12 season.

To his players, Jones is a live-action figure. He rides a custom-built Harley, painted in the Warriors' blackish green, sometimes in excess of 100 mph.

At coaching jobs in four professional leagues, he implemented the run-and-shoot offense that was unlike any other pro-set scheme.

He has defied lawmakers; refused to apologize for using university stationery to write a letter of leniency on behalf of a convicted felon; badgered Aloha Stadium and state officials until they agreed to change the playing surface.

He has infuriated Western Athletic Conference coaches for missing the early portion of the league's last two meet-the-press sessions — needing an advance note of apology for this year's Media Preview — and for condoning a team policy that allows the players to celebrate points scored after a 30-point lead.

He also appears to move easily against the flow. While other WAC coaches are wary of spying eyes, Jones was secure enough to invite the head coach of UH's top rival — Pat Hill of Fresno State — to attend spring practice. Bring along your son, too, Jones implored.

He schedules practices from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., provides breakfast at the training table, then sends his players off to class.

The guests at his practices could fill People magazine: Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Da Braddahs, Henry "Kapono" Kaaihue, Bill Romanowski, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.

"The thing I find most compelling is he's not afraid to take chances," said Rich Miano, who is coordinator of UH's pass defense.

Jones, who calls the offensive plays, created the unique arrangement of dividing the defensive coordinator job between George Lumpkin, who holds the title and administers the run defense, and Miano.

"I've never been afraid to be a nonconformist," Jones said.

He defied conventional wisdom when he rejected a four-year, $3 million offer to remain as the San Diego Chargers' head coach, instead agreeing to build a UH program that had won five games in the previous three seasons.

Shortly after signing, Jones began referring to the Rainbows as the "Warriors."

"To me, there hasn't been real consistent history of winning," Jones said. "They lost confidence in who they were, confidence in what they were branded as. A Warrior is a little different from a Rainbow. They needed a little pride in themselves."

Following the 1999 season, in which the Warriors went 9-4, earning a share of the WAC title and winning the O'ahu Bowl, Jones had successfully lobbied to legally change the nickname to "Warriors."

He traded the rainbow-striped uniforms for black or dark green jerseys and pants.

After watching a show at the Polynesian Cultural Center, he convinced UH officials to hire 292-pound Vili Fehoko as the team mascot.

Most of all, he instilled a go-for-broke attitude, which was rooted in the run-and-shoot offense.

"No question, it takes guts to run it," he said. "The commitment to throw the football, and do it for a living, goes against the grain. That's a nonconformist way of thinking."

Chang said: "He taught us to believe and trust. We believe in the system and we trust each other. If you trust the person next to you and have faith in what you're doing, it makes it easier to go into battle."

Jones said he has made his share of poor gambles.

"There was the fake halfback pass that didn't work and the fake punt," he said. "There are a lot of things that don't work. But like I always tell my players, you're not going experience greatness if you're not willing to take a chance. If we get a chance, we want to experience greatness."

Before Jones

UH's record prior to June Jones' arrival as coach in 1999. Jones' teams produced 31 victories in four seasons.

• 1998: 0-12
• 1997: 3-9
• 1996: 2-10
• 1995: 4-8
• 1994: 3-8-1
• 1993: 6-6

Jones file

• Age: 50
• Date of Birth: Feb. 19, 1953
• Hometown: Portland, Ore.
• Alma Mater: New York State Regents College

Playing Experience

Quarterback

• Toronto Argonauts (CFL), 1982
• Atlanta Falcons, 1977-81
• Portland State, 1975-76
• Hawai'i, 1973-74
• Oregon, 1971-72

Coaching Experience

• 1999-present: Hawai'i (head coach)
• 1998: San Diego Chargers (interim head coach)
• 1998: San Diego Chargers (quarterbacks)
• 1994-96: Atlanta Falcons (head coach)
• 1991-93: Atlanta Falcons (asst. head coach)
• 1989-90: Detroit Lions (quarterbacks/wide receivers)
• 1987-88: Houston Oilers (quarterbacks)
• 1986: Ottawa Roughriders (offensive asst.)
• 1985: Denver Gold (offensive coordinator)
• 1984: Houston Gamblers (wide receivers)
• 1983: Hawai'i (quarterbacks)