HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii has promoted defensive coordinator Greg McMackin to succeed June Jones as head coach of the Warriors.

The move will complete a few weeks of turmoil in Hawaii athletics. McMackin will have big shoes to fill, as he follows the most successful coach in Hawaii history, fresh off the best season in program history.

Jones resigned just four days after Hawaii's 41-10 New Year's Day loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to take the job at Southern Methodist. That loss was the only setback in a 12-1 campaign. Jones finished his tenure with a 76-41 record.

"I am honored and very humbled to accept the head coaching position at the University of Hawaii," McMackin said. "June Jones can never be replaced. He has done so many great things for the program, the university and the state of Hawaii and his legacy will never be forgotten. My destiny is to keep the program headed in that same direction and to maintain the continuity with our current players and recruiting base."

Athletics Director Herman Frazier was assigned much of the blame for not being able to retain Jones, and was fired three days later.

"Greg meets our top priorities as a coach - he is a demonstrated leader who has significant coaching experience, the ability to produce successful student-athletes, a full appreciation of the special connection between UH athletics and the people of Hawaii and the capacity to lead a smooth transition for current team members and coaches," said Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw.

This was McMackin's second stint as defensive coordinator at Hawaii, and he also held the same position at Miami-Florida. He has also served as Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator from 1995-98, and San Francisco 49ers linebackers coach from 2003-05. His last head coaching job was at Oregon Tech from 1986-89.