Dick Tomey, a former University of Hawai'i football coach, and Norm Chow, Cal Lee and Duane Akina, who have been finalists for the post in the past, are among the most prominently mentioned possibilities to succeed departing June Jones.

Jones ended a nine-year stay when he accepted the Southern Methodist University job yesterday. In an e-mail to athletic director Herman Frazier last week announcing his resignation, Jones recommended five candidates to UH: Tomey, Chow, Akina, Lee and Kevin Gilbride.

In the e-mail, Jones said, "I have talked to them and they are interested."

Jones also said in the e-mail that, "unless you get someone that knows Hawai'i you will take a big step backwards."

All but Gilbride, offensive coordinator of the New York Giants, were born or have coached extensively here.

Tomey, who had been the most successful UH head coach during a decade-long run (1977-86) in which he was 63-46 until Jones (76-41) surpassed him, just finished his third season at San Jose State, a Western Athletic Conference rival of the Warriors.

Tomey declined comment on Jones' departure Saturday night and did not return calls yesterday. Tomey, 68, had been considered for the athletic director's job that went to Herman Frazier in 2002 and is in the UH Circle of Honor. "A lot of people would love this choice," Jones told Frazier in the e-mail.

Chow, who groomed three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks and six first-round draft picks while the offensive coordinator at Brigham Young, North Carolina State and Southern California, is the offensive coordinator of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, whose season ended Sunday in the AFC playoffs. He was a finalist in 1995 when Fred vonAppen replaced Bob Wagner.

Chow, 61, had refused to talk about the opening Saturday while the Titans remained in the playoffs. Yesterday, he did not return calls.

In the e-mail to Frazier, Jones said, "you know his (Chow's) credentials. Will cost you more probably."

Chow reportedly earns approximately $2 million per season with the Titans.

Akina, a Punahou School graduate and backup quarterback to Warren Moon at the University of Washington, has been defensive coordinator or associate head coach at Arizona and Texas. He was an assistant at UH (1983-'86).

A Texas spokesman said Longhorn assistants are not permitted to discuss job openings without head coach Mack Brown's approval. But friends say Akina "would be interested if (UH) is interested" in him. "He'd love to come home and coach again at UH."

In the e-mail to Frazier, Jones described Akina as, "a local boy that wants to come home and his resume is a great one. He is a great person."

Lee, 59, the most successful head coach in Hawai'i high school history, winning 14 Prep Bowl titles and 18 Interscholastic League of Honolulu football championships, has been on Jones' staff for four seasons.

Of Lee, Jones wrote, "Local boy knows what we are doing and (is) a winner. (Brother) Ron can continue to run (the) offense and Cal knows (defensive coordinator Greg McMackin's) stuff. Never been a college head coach but capable."

Gilbride has been a head coach at Connecticut and with the San Diego Chargers. Jones was on Gilbride's staff with the Chargers and succeeded Gilbride there in 1998. Gilbride's son played at UH and his brother-in-law, Mike Cavanaugh, coached at UH under Jones and is now at Oregon State.

Other possible candidates include UH assistants Rich Miano, Dennis McKnight and Jeff Reinebold, and Colorado assistant Brian Cabral.

Dan Morrison, Wes Suan and Greg McMackin are expected to accompany Jones to SMU.

In addition, former Boise State and Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter has been recommended to UH officials. Koetter coached Arizona State in the 2006 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl and is offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.