University of Hawai'i defensive coordinator Greg McMackin, who had been expected to follow June Jones to Southern Methodist University as associate head coach, has shown an interest in succeeding Jones as the Warriors' head coach, according to people involved in the process.

McMackin declined comment but athletic department staffers said he has had conversations with interim athletic director Carl Clapp and associate athletic director John McNamara.

McMackin, 58, had originally been scheduled to leave for the Mainland but has chosen to remain here, people in the department said. His wife, Heather, is in Texas where the family has a home.

Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw met with the coaching staff yesterday and several people said McMackin has wide support among the staff in his bid to succeed Jones. Several prominent boosters have also taken up a campaign on his behalf.

McMackin is in his second stint at UH. He was Jones' original defensive coordinator and associate head coach here in 1999, when the Warriors achieved the biggest single-season turnaround in NCAA history going from 0-12 in 1998 to 9-4 in 1999.

McMackin left in 2000 to be defensive coordinator at Texas Tech, and later was associate head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (2003-'05).

Before his first stop at UH, McMackin had been defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks and defensive coordinator at the University of Miami (1993-'95), Naval Academy (1992-'93) and Utah (1990-'92).

He served as head coach and assistant athletic director at Oregon Tech (1986-'90).

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.