June Jones to Coach at SMU (w/UPDATES)

According to Stephen Tsai:

June Jones has decided to accept the head coaching job at Southern Methodist, according to sources.
A news conference is scheduled for today in Dallas.

And a link to the article that'll probably be updated later on.

UPDATE: Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News confirms that June Jones will become head coach at SMU.

After a night of uncertainty, June Jones and SMU have reached an agreement to make him the school's new football coach, agent Leigh Steinberg said Monday.

As of the wee hours of this morning, Jones was torn between staying at Hawaii and taking on the SMU reclamation project.

But Jones and SMU have agreed to a five-year deal worth just short of $2 million a year. The deal is funded by boosters and will easily make Jones the highest-paid coach in Conference USA.

"When he woke up this morning, he was at peace and felt great about the decision to come to SMU," Steinberg said.

Steinberg said Jones was on the phone back to the islands late into the night. But Jones was impressed with SMU's on-campus facilities, his meeting with SMU president R. Gerald Turner, the support of boosters "and the singular vision and commitment from the top to the bottom," Steinberg said.

UPDATE 2: Tsai has some details on his blog.

At least three of his assistants will join him at SMU — Greg McMackin, Dan Morrison and Wes Suan.
He has offered positions to all of his assistants at UH.
Jones returns to Hawai‘i tomorrow to fill out scholarship papers for the gray shirts who will join the Warriors for the 2008 spring semester.

UPDATE 3: Dave Reardon speaks to June Jones.

Hawaii football coach June Jones told the Star-Bulletin this morning he is leaving his job at UH to become coach at SMU.

"Well it was a hard, hard decision," Jones said in a phone interview this morning. "It was very emotional for me, but it's a very good opportunity and I have to do what's right for my family."

UPDATE 4: Here's an AP article about it.

"In 30 years representing athletes, I've never seen the emotional reaction from a state like Hawaii," Steinberg said. "There was a flood of e-mails and calls exhorting him to stay."

It wasn't enough, however, to keep the 54-year-old coach from leaving the cool island breezes for the heat of football-crazy Texas and its fertile recruiting ground. His contract puts him on the same pay scale as new Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman ($1.8 million).

And from ESPN.

June Jones will be introduced at a 4 p.m. ET news conference today as the head coach at SMU.

UPDATE 5: More for Tsai's blog:

"I'll always love Hawai‘i," Jones said. "Hawai‘i will always be a part of me. But it's time to move on."
Jones said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of e-mails and calls from UH supporters the past few days. He saie he broke down and cried at least six times.
He said he turned off his cell phone last night at his Dallas hotel, and prayed for a decision.
"I woke up with such a peace," he said, realizing he would accept the SMU job.
Jones said he is leaving behind a talented football team that should be competitive next season.

UPDATE 6: The Advertiser has statements from Governor Lingle and Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.

"A search for a new head football coach will begin immediately."

And Dave Reardon writes that there may be some big news at a 2pm HST press conference.

Speculation is that there will be a very big announcement. We haven’t confirmed it yet, but word on the street is it is something that will make many Hawaii fans happy. (And it’s not June Jones coming back). Don’t ask for more hints, because there won’t be any until we confirm it.

UPDATE 7: Dave Reardon speculates about new UH head coach candidates, naming Cal Lee, Jeff Reinebold, Norm Chow, Duane Akina, Dick Tomey and Kevin Gilbride as possible choices.

UPDATE 8: Ominous signs for a certain someone. In a statement, UH President David McClain thanks Linda Lingle, Virginia Hinshaw and Rep. K Mark Takai and the fans for their help and support, neglecting to mention this certain someone, and closes the statement with this:

Finally, I also want to apologize to our fans and all of Hawaii for matters getting to this stage in the first place. Exceptional performance deserves exceptional recognition, and your University was slow to step up.

That won't happen again. My focus as your president is to keep the drama on the athletic field and in the stadium, where it belongs, and not at the ticket window, or in contract negotiations."