Quotes from JJ's press conference

About how his leaving UH provided a sense of urgency to do the things that need to be done for UH Athletics, JJ said:
"The state of Hawai'i has an opportunity to make a decision to change so that the next coach is not frustrated by the kinds of things that Herman (Frazier, the recently fired UH athletic director) and I and everybody else has been paralyzed with. I'm not a person that gets up and beats on the table and I knew when I came here it was this way. I tried to do things in those early years and I was accused of all kinds of things by people who thought I had ulterior motives. Every change I made was with the school or my players in mind. Because of me leaving now, I think there's a sense of urgency to do the things that need to be done and should have been done." (HA)

Taking it easy on HF, JJ said:
"I felt really bad about that situation because, as a football coach, Herman was right there with us, helping me as much as he could. I hate that the timing of it was triggered with my departure. In no way did I ever feel that Herman was anything but helpful. Whenever I needed anything, I went downstairs and Herman tried to get it done. He was faced with a lot of the frustrations I faced the first four years on the job until he showed up. I know he tried to do it right and tried to do it correctly." (HA)

Endorsing GM to take over for him even though he'd love to have GM at SMU, JJ said:
"I don't want to lose Greg McMackin. But just the thought that he has a possibility to be here, I want that for the school because that's the best chance to keep the continuity of the things we have built and the things we have done." (HA)

“It’s the right thing for the school." (HSB)

About how he finds peace at Hokulia, where his press conference was held:
“This is where I go to not think about football." (HSB)

About how he will leave the DC job open to GM for a short while, JJ said:
“I have things I have to do, too." (HSB)

About taking the SMU job, JJ said:
"I was coaching receivers 15 years ago at like 41,000 a year and all of a sudden someone offered me 2 million dollars. It was time for me to make a change for me and my family, this was an opportunity to good to pass up." (KHON)

KHON Note: "He says along with the money, he's looking forward to the challenge of resurrecting the SMU football program the way he tried to do for UH."

About how things were at UH, JJ said:
"I'm not a person that gets up on the table and says I want this, I want that. I knew when I came here, it was this way." (KHON)

Hoping that his leaving will inspire change at UH, JJ said:
"It's not all about one person getting something done, the State of Hawaii has the opportunity to make a decision to change." (KHON)

Abouut how football brought attention to UH this year, JJ said:
"We were on the cover of the New York Times and USA today, you cant buy that kind of exposure. It can be the best ambassador for the university." (KHON)

About Hawaii fans, JJ said:
"It's only in Hawaii do people come up and say thank you coach." (KHON)

About how he plans to retire in Hawaii, JJ said:
"This is going to be home for me and it'll always be a part of me. I may be going for awhile, but I'll be back and I hope people here will just remember the good times." (KHON)