HONOLULU -- Hawaii football coach June Jones said he would
travel to Dallas on Saturday to discuss the opening at SMU.
Jones told The Honolulu Advertiser an official offer was
expected to be made during a meeting with SMU Mustangs officials.
Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg, said SMU had made an offer and
the coach has received a counteroffer from Hawaii Warriors. 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 may have a backup strategy, however. ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that the university has contacted Mike Martz, who was fired as offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions on Wednesday.
Former Miami coach Larry Coker and former Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione already have spoken with SMU about the job opening.
SMU announced Oct. 28 that head coach Phil Bennett would step
down when the season ended. He was 18-52 in six seasons.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.