June Jones steps aside with Hamilton Tiger-Cats, allows his associate to become head coach

June Jones made himself an offer he could not refuse.

Jones elected to relinquish his title as head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but remain with the Canadian Football League team as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

Orlondo Steinauer has been promoted from associate head coach to head coach.

Jones, who was the University of Hawaii’s head coach for nine seasons, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he initiated the move to enable the Tiger-Cats to retain Steinauer. Two CFL teams expressed interest in hiring Steinauer, who joined the Tiger-Cats this past season.

Jones said in a phone conversation that he decided to meet with Hamilton’s owner and president after Steinauer began receiving overtures from CFL teams.

Jones recalled telling them: “If you don’t want to lose him, make (Steinauer) the head coach and I’ll run the offense. I’ve been there, done that. I don’t need all that other stuff.

“They couldn’t believe I offered that to them. We got that done.”

In a recent news conference, Steinauer told reporters: “For June to make the suggestion to step aside speaks volumes for him. To be able to retain him on this staff is an amazing thing for me.”

Jones will retain autonomy to run the run-and-shoot offense. Despite losing their top four receivers to season-ending injuries, the Tiger-Cats had the league’s top offense and reached the Eastern Division’s title game.

Steinauer might oversee the Tiger-Cats’ defense, although a final decision will not be announced until later this week.

A vacancy was created when Jerry Glanville announced he would not return as defensive coordinator because of his wife’s long-term illness. Glanville has served as head coach of the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons. He also was UH’s defensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006.

Asked if he would coach again, Glanville told the Star-Advertiser: “Preachers preach, coaches coach. And that’s the way it is.”