And this is exactly why a coach receiving a contract extension means next to nothing. Well, except for Bobby Petrino‘s, of course.
In August of this year, June Jones signed a two-year contract extension that would keep him at SMU through the 2014 season. At the time, Jones said in a statement that he was very “excited about the direction of the program” and grateful for “the support of the SMU community will allow us to be successful for years to come.”
Based on one report, perhaps he meant to say “months to come.”
According to ComcastSportsNet Washington, Jones is one of a handful of candidates who have interviewed for the head coaching vacancy at Maryland. Also interviewed, the website reports, are Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and ex-Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach.
Leach has been at or near the top of most lists to replace Ralph Friedgen even before Friedgen had been fired; after a brief flirtation with Vanderbilt, Malzahn received a contract extension and raise to remain with the Tigers. There are additional candidates for the job, but those were the only three listed in the report.
The surprise here, though, is Jones. Then again, based on the following note from the Dallas Morning News, we shouldn’t be.I’ll continue checking into the report, but if it turns out to be accurate, you can be sure that Jones did not want this getting out before the bowl game. He left Hawaii after the Sugar Bowl in Jan. of 2008 and denied reports of his interest in SMU - including in The Dallas Morning News - until after coaching the Warriors in the BCS bowl.
Jones has said, as recently as this season, that the only other job that would interest him would be a chance to return to the NFL.There has been no confirmation from Maryland or any of the three alleged candidates for the Terps job.