The Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker of the House of Representatives Hawaii State Capitol, Room 431 Honolulu, HI 96813
RE: REQUEST FOR SPECIAL HOUSE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE UH FOOTBALL COACH HIRING PROCESS
Aloha Speaker Saiki: Sunday, January 23, 2022
I am reaching out to request that you convene a special committee to investigate the recent hiring process that was used to select the UH Football Coach and more specifically the part of the process that involved June Jones. It is a national embarrassment for the people of Hawaii. The taxpayers who pay all of our salaries deserve some clarity on this fouled-up situation.
This decision alone ensures the athletic department will be drowning in red ink for years to come. Further, as attorney Mike Green indicated in the Sunday paper, President Lassner and AD Matlin’s actions may cause legal jeopardy for the State of Hawaii due to how this whole matter was handled.
Clearly, the hiring process at UH over this past weekend was a complete fiasco that I believe was intentional. As such, President Lassner and AD Matlin should both tender their resignations.
Based on what I know, it was all a charade. We know that June Jones was offered a 2-year contract with assistant coaches requiring the AD’s approval. This is inconceivable considering the impossible parameters for an accomplished professional like June Jones. Remember, the last game he coached for UH was the National Championship Sugar Bowl.
The entire consideration process for Junes Jones was a farce so AD Matlin could “check the box” to satisfy the public and move on. He never wanted nor intended to hire June Jones. June is a national figure whose stature in football literally and figuratively dwarfs the UH leadership. It is unacceptable if AD Matlin’s ego and fear of being overpowered by June Jones were permitted to drive this process.
Trotting out the PR contact to sling innuendo and unproven allegations against June Jones with no ability to defend himself was pure bush league. These are the same people who told us the previous coach was loved by his players. False.
UH President David Lassner had to have “okay’ed” this whole affair. Either that or he is incompetent and must go. Either way, I have no confidence the regents will reach the bottom of this issue. We need to step in and shine some sunlight on this process via a House Investigative Committee.
With Much Aloha,
Rep Bob McDermott
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