HONOLULU -- Former University of Hawaii football head coach June Jones will return to the islands this month to lead his Southern Methodist University team to the Hawaii Bowl.

SMU (7-5) officially accepted an invitation on Tuesday.

"We are very excited with the return of June Jones to Hawai‘i to participate in his fifth Sheraton Hawaii Bowl as a coach," Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Executive Director David A. K. Matlin said.

The Aloha Stadium game on Christmas Eve will be the first post-season bowl berth in 25 years for SMU. The last bowl game was the Aloha Bowl in 1984.

"We set this bowl as a goal before the season started and I am so happy that our players will be able to have this experience," Jones said in a statement. "Reaching our first bowl game in 25 years is special -- not only for our current student-athletes, but also for the guys who came before them and our student body, staff and fans. This bowl has special meaning for me personally, as eight years ago, I was part of the original vision ESPN and Sheraton had for Hawai‘i and the nation. It is exciting to be a part of one of the best bowl experiences in college football."

Organizers are hoping for a UH-SMU matchup.

After losing six straight, Hawaii has won its past four games, including a big victory over Navy on Saturday night to keep its postseason hopes alive.

The Warriors must still beat Wisconsin in order to qualify for an invitation.

Jones left UH after leading the team to its only Bowl Championship Series matchup against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in 2008.