Arizona State Ends June Jones Negotiation, Will Continue Coaching Search

SMU’s June Jones will not become the next head coach at Arizona State, according to the school’s COO.

“June Jone is not going to be our coach. The process continues,” said Steve Patterson, ASU’s Chief operating officer, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

Things changed quickly between the school and Jones, according to the Arizona Republic.

“A source confirmed that both parties were in the process of finalizing the contract’s final details when ASU President Michael Crow ended the discussion.”

Jones’ agent, Leigh Steinberg just posted on his blog about the ordeal, which was as bizarre as it sounds.

Just had one of the most bizarre endings to a set of productive discussions to bring a client to a new situation. Everything was set,few tweaks left,and the principal decision maker yanks the deal w no real explanation.

Word is that Arizona State boosters were a key reason for the change in negotiations as they were unhappy with Jones as the replacement for Dennis Erickson.

ASU blog House of Sparky is concerned with what this most recent snag says about the school.

So now ASU is back to where it was two days ago, but now with the stain of ineptness and more indications that they lack the heart needed to make a hire that can truly move the university’s needle.

For more on the Sun Devils, check out Arizona State blog House Of Sparky. Here’s our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.