Former Ticats head coach June Jones would ‘love to return’ to CFL in 2024: report

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

Former Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones is angling for a return to the CFL, according to a report from TSN‘s Dave Naylor.

“Spoke tonight to former Ticats head coach June Jones. Said he very much would love to return to the CFL as soon as next season. Will not return to the XFL for ‘24. Had some discussions with Ticats when OC Tommy Condell [was] dismissed mid-season.”

Jones spent parts of two seasons as a head coach in the CFL, taking over an 0-8 Hamilton Tiger-Cats team in 2017 and leading them to six wins in their final 10 games. He then guided the Ticats to an 8-10 record in 2018, finishing second in the East and reaching the division final before losing to Ottawa. He stepped aside in December 2018 to allow Orlondo Steinauer to take over the head coach role in Hamilton, laying the foundation for a team that made two straight Grey Cup appearances.

As a player, Jones also served as a backup quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts in 1982, after playing four seasons with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. He was later the quarterbacks coach for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1986.

The Portland, Ore. native has 13 seasons of NFL coaching experience and 16 years at the NCAA level. He served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1994-1996 and was the interim head coach of the San Diego Chargers in 1998. He was the head coach of the University of Hawaii from 1999 until 2007, posting a 76-24 overall record and an undefeated regular season in his final year.

Jones served as head coach of the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks during the failed 2020 season and returned to the league in 2023 as offensive coordinator of the Seattle Sea Dragons. The club elected not to retain his services following the season.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders currently have the only head coaching vacancy in the CFL and have been linked to current Ticats’ offensive coordinator Scott Milanovich, who took over after Condell’s midseason firing. The Ottawa Redblacks, led by former Ticats assistant general manager Shawn Burke, are also looking for an offensive coordinator following the firing of Khari Jones.

However, Hamilton could look to reshuffle their staff following a disappointing playoff exit and move on from Steinauer as head coach, creating an unexpected opening in the position previously held by Jones.