Hawaii's June Jones going to Texas to discuss SMU post

HONOLULU (AP) -Hawaii football coach June Jones said he would travel to Dallas on Saturday to discuss the opening at Southern Methodist University.Jones told The Honolulu Advertiser an official offer was expected to be made during a meeting with SMU

HONOLULU (AP) -Hawaii football coach June Jones said he would travel to Dallas on Saturday to discuss the opening at Southern Methodist University.

Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg, said SMU had made an offer and the coach has received a counteroffer from Hawaii. Steinberg did not discuss specifics, but said Jones also is considering an NFL job.

National reports have said SMU has offered Jones up to $2 million a year. He currently receives $800,000 a year from Hawaii under a five-year contract that expires June 30.

Jones, the winningest coach in Hawaii history over his nine seasons, said he met with University of Hawaii president David McClain on Thursday and with athletic director Herman Frazier on Friday.

Jones' Warriors were the nation's only undefeated college team this season before they lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Before the loss, Hawaii had won 22 of its previous 23 games and 13 straight, the longest streak in major college football.

In his first season at Hawaii, Jones took over an 0-12 team and directed the biggest turnaround in college football history, going 9-4 in 1999 and taking Hawaii to its first bowl game since 1992.

SMU announced Oct. 28 that head coach Phil Bennett would step down when the season ended.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.