After graduating from Katy High School, Bo Levi Mitchell was recruited by June Jones and the Southern Methodist University Mustangs.

As a true freshman, Mitchell was asked to lead the SMU offence and, while he wasn’t overly successful, it’s an opportunity the Stampeders QB still appreciates.

“He gave me a chance,” said Mitchell.

“I was a cocky freshman at the time, a guy who thought he owned the world.”

Mitchell lost the starting job and eventually transferred to Eastern Washington but that didn’t hurt his relationship with his coach.

“I had a situation down there at SMU, where I got injured and lost my spot and he was blunt and honest with me about it,” Mitchell said. “That’s something I always respected and we kept in touch after that. I respect the guy as a man and as a football coach as well.

“I respect June as a guy and I don’t think he wronged me in any way when it came down to losing the spot.”

Ticats’ head coach June Jones (Photo by Canadian Press/Dave Chidley)

Fast forward to 2017 and Jones has followed Mitchell to the Canadian Football League, initially taking an assistant coaching job with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

In August, when Kent Austin stepped down as the head coach of the Tabbies, Jones was given the job of turning around a winless team.

Since then, Jones has won four of six games and has his team playing with more confidence and ferocity.

“He’s turned around multiple programs and he’s doing a heck of a job over there,” said Mitchell. “Give credit to the players as well for turning things around, it’s not easy to do. They’re playing great football right now. It’ll be great to see him and say what’s up to him.”

And he’s not surprised by the turnaround.

Mitchell believes that in addition to having a strong football mind, Jones’ attitude in the locker room is something that helps him get the most out of his team.

“June, he’s a players coach,” Mitchell said. “He enjoys this game, he enjoys being around the guys. He’ll talk to guys. He’ll be honest with you, too. He’ll tell you the truth.”

Heading into Friday’s match-up between the Stamps and Ticats, Mitchell is expecting a hungry group that will be doing whatever it can to stop the Calgary offence.

“They’ve been playing really well,” said Mitchell.

“There a group that runs lots of different coverages and a lot of different things to try and confuse the quarterback, so you’ve just got to be smart and see what you see.”