June Jones

"When I met with the search committee, I saw the commitment to get back to the highest level of competition," says Jones, who arrived in January. During his nine years at Hawaii, he rebuilt a struggling football program to an undefeated regular season and into the national rankings.

Jones arrives as SMU prepares for a comprehensive fundraising campaign that will invest significantly in academic quality and campus life, to accelerate SMU's rise in national prominence.

SMU Athletics Director Steve Orsini, who led the search, thanks a select group of donors, The Circle of Champions, for underwriting Jones' contract and additional resources.

Said SMU President R. Gerald Turner, "From the classroom to the campus experience, generous donors are helping us attain the highest quality in everything we do."