Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach June Jones is leaving to take a head coaching job in the XFL.Peter Power/The Canadian Press
June Jones is leaving the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the XFL.
The Ticats confirmed Monday that Jones has stepped down as their assistant head coach and offensive co-ordinator to pursue other opportunities. Both the Houston Chronicle and Pro Football Talk reported that Jones would become the head coach of the XFL’s franchise in Houston.
The Ticats promoted receivers coach Tommy Condell to offensive co-ordinator.
Jones, 66, stepped down as Ticats coach in December so that assistant head coach Orlondo Steinauer could take the top job. Jones stayed on as the club’s offensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach.
Jones became Hamilton’s interim head coach in 2017 after the club went 0-8 to start the season. The Ticats finished the season winning six of 10 games under Jones, who became the full-time head coach in the off-season.
Last year, the Ticats posted an 8-10 record to finish second in the East Division standings. After dispatching the BC Lions 48-8 in the conference semi-final, Hamilton’s season ended with a 46-27 road loss to the Ottawa Redblacks in the division final.
The timing of Jones’s departure is hardly ideal with the Ticats scheduled to open training camp on May 19.
Jones has an extensive football résumé south of the border in both the NCAA and NFL. Most notably, he served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (1994-96) and San Diego Chargers (1998).
Jones also spent time as a quarterback in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts (1982).
Jones becomes the second former CFL head coach to head to the XFL. Marc Trestman, who earned Grey Cups as the head coach in Montreal and Toronto, is coach and general manager of the league’s Tampa franchise.