HONOLULU -- University of Hawaii football coach June Jones on Wednesday was named one of seven finalists up for the 2007 Paul "Bear" Bryant College Coach of the Year.

Jones led the Warriors to a perfect 12-0 season for the first time in school history. He also

Other Coach Finalists:

Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech University

Sylvester "Sly" Croom, Mississippi State University

Mark Mangino, University of Kansas

Les Miles, Louisiana State University

Gary Pinkel, University of Missouri

Ron Zook, University of Illinois

The winner will be announced on Jan. 17.

Hawaii received its first invitation to a Bowl Championship Series game. The Warriors will play the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day.