By Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
Oct. 21, 1998

Logically, June Jones would be ecstatic about his second head-coaching job in the NFL.

There

Despite his new job title, tutoring Ryan Leaf remains an important responsibility for June Jones. (AP)

are those who believe "ecstasy" and a "head coaching job" in any professional sport equate to something like an oxymoron. At least, that's what happened to Jones two weeks ago.

SUFFICE TO SAY JONES WAS UNHAPPY about replacing Kevin Gilbride as coach of the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 13 when the latter was fired. Keep in mind that Gilbride hired Jones to be his quarterbacks coach on Jan. 20.

"Well, it was very difficult ... in fact I told them I didn't want to do it at first," Jones said. "After about five or six hours, we got to sitting around the office and talking to the other coaches, and they encouraged me that I needed to do it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized there were other peoples' lives (the other assistants) involved, too. People have families and don't want to move, so I felt not just an obligation to Kevin -- who I felt very bad for -- at the same time you feel the obligation to the rest of the other people who are with you."

In other words, Jones walked into a mess. A native of Portland, Ore., his laid-back demeanor seemed just the antidote for the overwrought Gilbride. After all, Jones had been able to deal with the brat of all brat quarterbacks, Jeff "Boy" George. Now Jones is dealing with another immature guy -- rookie Ryan Leaf -- but Leaf is all about team and winning.

"They are two completely different personalities," Jones said. "Every quarterback has a different personality."

More important, Jones has come to terms with replacing Gilbride for the 3-4 Chargers. They beat Philadelphia 13-10 in Jones' debut, and even Leaf wasn't about to jump on the bandwagon with the transition of coaches.

"He's only coached one game," Leaf said. "It's something I don't want to comment on."

Being a rookie, he had already forgotten saying it was different for a lot of guys. The atmosphere had softened considerably. For Leaf, it didn't mean much. Jones being his quarterback coach and all, he didn't see him any more than usual.

JONES IS STILL FOCUSED ON THE OFFENSE and its coordination. More important, his primary responsibility is the development of Leaf, with whom the future of the franchise is almost directly tied. When the Chargers play host to the Seattle Seahawks this week, don't expect any dramatic changes of philosophy.

"They want to keep things as simple as possible," said Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson. As coach at the University of Miami he recruited Leaf, who had an undeniable desire to attend Washington State. "You don't see coaches getting fired at midseason very often, but the last thing they will do is make big changes. I'm sure he doesn't want to do that to Ryan."

Jones isn't apt to do anything contrary to anyone, really. His three years as coach of the Atlanta Falcons (1994-96) were of the roller coaster variety, but not emotionally. They were 19-29, but that included a playoff berth in 1995. That's why the sideline confrontation with George two years ago was stunning. While it clearly is typical of George to throw a fit, it's tough to imagine anyone getting so angry at Jones. His career has been one of smooth sailing, if not always successful in the win-loss column.

A former quarterback at Oregon, Hawaii and Portland State (for Mouse Davis) in college, he played five years for the Falcons and a year in the Canadian Football League. One year of coaching quarterbacks at Hawaii, and he was bound for the CFL and USFL until his NFL coaching career began to unfold with the Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions. He returned to Atlanta in 1991 and was an assistant for three years until becoming head coach. One pupil was Brett Favre, who gained a bit of fame after being traded to Green Bay.

"He's really a great coach and truly one of the great guys in the league," Favre was quoted as saying in the Chargers media guide. "Every time I see June I think of the patience and teaching he gave me. It was something he didn't have to do."

YES IT WAS. THAT'S HIS PERSONALITY. You won't hear one dissenting opinion with regard to the positive attitude and approach of June Jones. The criticism is he's too easy to be a head coach. He won't crack the whip, and players take advantage of him.

As a quarterbacks coach, it rarely is necessary to get tough, if only because he's more of a tutor than a coach. A mentor to a student. That's why Favre has such a high opinion of him, and Leaf will, too. George's problem was with Jones as a head coach, as well as his own personality.

Nobody is expecting the Chargers to compete for the AFC West crown. For them to make the playoffs in Leaf's rookie year figured to require a minor miracle. And yet with the best defense in the NFL so far and a superb running game behind Natrone Means, they are a difficult team to deal with.

But to summarize the personality of June Jones and his natural loyalty, one needs only to realize who he talked to Tuesday night, taking a break from his intense work schedule: Kevin Gilbride.

"I talked to him last night for about an hour," Jones said. "I mean, he understands everybody has got a job to do. Pretty much the questions are already gone. It died down last week."

Now, like Jones was after getting fired by the Falcons, Gilbride is out of work. Guilt-ridden as he may be, Jones has one of the 30 NFL head coaching jobs in the world. Happiness has nothing to do with it. This beats the alternative. Jones knows it. Gilbride knows it. The coaching pendulum continues to swing.