Legendary college football head coach June Jones passed away earlier this week. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors legend was 73 years old.
"Coach Jones was a father figure, a mentor, and a visionary who revolutionized the game," said Timmy Chang, the current Hawaii coach who broke the NCAA record for career passing yards under Jones. "He believed in a young kid from Hawaii and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to run his offense."
Jones also coached in the NFL, serving as the head coach of the Falcons.
"A visionary in the passing game," the Falcons called Jones in a statement Thursday. However, he is best known for his time at Hawaii.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green called him "an exceptional human being."
"He was a motivator of young people and he was a winner," Green said. "He won big moments for us, and that put us into the spotlight."
Details emerge from June Jones' death
Jones had entered hospice care at 73 after dealing with a spinal tumor that ultimately led to his death. He had battled several health issues over the past few years.
"June Jones, the legendary former University of Hawaiʻi football coach who engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history and led t...