Update 9/8/14 8:14 p.m.
SMU President R. Gerald Turner and Athletic Director Rick Hart addressed a crowd at a 7p.m. press conference in the Tamra & John Gorman Mustang Auditorium in the lower level of the Loyd All-Sports Center.
Senior Dacota Taylor (@DacotaTaylor) tweeted this photo when the press conference began:
.@SMUMustangs addresses resignation of #SMU football head coach June Jones. pic.twitter.com/jAykKIfvlZ
— Dacota Taylor (@DacotaTaylor) September 9, 2014
Update 9/8/14 6:00 p.m.
SMU Athletic Staff confirms that Defensive Coach Tom Mason is temporary head coach.
Many SMU football players, past and present, have taken to Twitter to express their thoughts about Jones’ resignation.
Thank you @CoachJuneJones for the opportunity to play football and for the great memories. It's about the journey!
— Margus Hunt (@Margus_Hunt) September 8, 2014
What @CoachJuneJones did with the @SMU � program is a miracle. We were beyond lousy when he arrived & he turned us into champions.
— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) September 8, 2014
Coach Jones is one of the greatest. He's an amazing coach. Nothing but love and respect for him. Love you man. Thank you for everything
— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) September 8, 2014
Coach Jones did incredible things for @SMU_Football and the players he coached. Molded boys into men. Brought life back to the hilltop.
— Zach Line (@ZLINE48) September 8, 2014
Update 9/8/14 5:16 p.m.
A press release by Brad Sutton, senior associate A.D. for public relations and marketing, stated that June Jones has resigned due to personal issues.
Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Tom Mason will take Jones’ place for the remainder of the year.
Jones spoke to his staff and players this afternoon and informed them of his resignation.
“It was a very difficult decision for me to make, as you can imagine,” Jones said in the press release. “I have devoted my life for the last 50 years to playing and coaching this game and it has been a great journey. This job has a lot of demands, as you know, and along with that journey comes a price that is paid. I have some personal issues I have been dealing with and I need to take a step away so I can address them at this time.”
Jones’ choice to leave was entirely his own according to Director of Athletics Rick Hart. The university will begin the national search for a new head coach right away.
The press conference will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the Tamra & John Gorman Mustang Auditorium in the lower level of the Loyd All-Sports Center.
Original Article 9/8/14 4:23 p.m.
According to a Dallas Morning News article released this afternoon, SMU Head Football Coach June Jones will resign today.
The information comes from SportsDay’s Bill Nicholos.
Leigh Steinberg dropped the news via Twitter on Sept. 8, 2014.
JUNE JONES RESIGNS SMU COACHING JOB–June had felt for some time he had accomplished mission to turn around program and needed a break.
— Leigh Steinberg (@leighsteinberg) September 8, 2014
Speculation from SMU football players said that Defensive Coach Tom Mason will take Jones’ place.
The resignation comes two weeks into the school year, after the Mustangs lost their two opening games to Baylor University and the University of North Texas.
A press conference will be held tonight to discuss the matter.
The Daily Campus will continue to provide updates as they become available.
