UH: No contact about Jones

By Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writers

The University of Hawai'i was surprised to learn of a published report that Oregon State pursued Warrior football coach June Jones for its head football coaching vacancy without first contacting the school.

UH athletic director Herman Frazier said: "Oregon State did not contact us" nor ask for permission to contact Jones or his agent, Leigh Steinberg.

Frazier said he knows Oregon State's top athletic department officials, and if they were to pursue another school's coach, "they would do it the right way."

Jones is in the final year of a five-year contract he signed with the Warriors in January 1999.

Wednesday, Jones told the (Portland) Oregonian newspaper that OSU had contacted Steinberg to informally discuss the coaching vacancy.

The Beavers are seeking a replacement for Dennis Erickson, who left Tuesday to take the San Francisco 49ers' job.

Jones, who has been involved in on and off contract extension negotiations with UH for 14 months, has extensive ties to Oregon, where he was born and raised.

He attended the University of Oregon before coming to UH in 1973 and played for two years at Portland State after leaving UH. Jones' father and brother live in the Portland area, as have his wife and son since their separation.

Jones' annual package at UH is worth $320,000 with $220,000 in base pay, $60,000 in radio and television deals and a $40,000 housing allowance. In addition, Jones receives a bonus for every win after his sixth.

Erickson's OSU package reportedly had a base salary of approximately $750,000 and, with incentives, had the potential for $1 million.

"I think June has said he wants to stay here, and the university would like to keep him here," Frazier said.