The following interview with NABC President Jeff Jones appears in the Fall 2016 edition of NABC Time-Out Magazine. To read the full Fall 2016 issue, click here.
Q: You grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, a region where basketball is an everyday conversation, not only in your home state but also across the river in Indiana. How did the culture of your hometown influence your life?
Jones: I’ve loved the game of basketball for as long as I can remember. In Owensboro, basketball was a way of life. Whether it was high school basketball or college basketball, it was a focal point for our entire community.
Q: Your father was a highly respected basketball coach, winning a Division II NCAA title at Kentucky Wesleyan. When did you first know that you wanted to coach?
Jones: While my father was never my coach, he taught me the game. I attended all of his games, a lot of practices, and even got to go on the occasional recruiting trip. Being around a college program afforded me a different perspective than many kids. However, I never really considered coaching as a profession until after my college career came to an end. I loved playing the game so much, I wanted to play until I could no longer do so.
Q: As a four-year starter and senior captain at Virginia, you helped lead the Cavs to 120 wins and the NCAA Final Four in 1981. During that time, you set records as UVA’s all-time assist leader (598) and the single-season record with 200 assists. How much have those positions as a point guard and team captain helped in your coaching career?
Jones: Quite simply, the combination of being a coach’s son and a point guard has been priceless throughout my coaching career. I viewed the game with the analytical perspective of a coach even when I was still playing.
Q: Over the many years you have served on the NABC Board of Directors you have been instrumental in conducting the annual Division I college all-star game played during the NCAA Final Four. Please tell us about the impact of that game for the NABC and for the 20 college seniors selected to play.
Jones: First and foremost, I think it has been a fun and positive experience for every young man that has competed in that event. The NABC is committed to the All-Star Game being a first-class event. We have had outstanding players, many of whom have gone on to NBA careers. It continues to impress me how hard the young men compete in the game.
Q: In your career as a head coach at the University of Virginia, American University and now at Old Dominion University, you have experienced different levels of Division I college basketball. How do you think the recent NCAA legislative actions in creating the Autonomy Five conferences has changed the Division I basketball landscape?
Jones: For years and years, college basketball has evolved and will continue to evolve. Recent legislation is an example of that evolution. There is a greater divide in terms of resources between high majors and low majors probably than ever before, but that isn’t inherently bad. If something is good for collegiate athletics, and especially student-athletes, it seems to me we should try to make that possible.
Q: The NABC has been vocal about the importance of coaches to giving back to the game and to the community. What does that mean to you?
Jones: I’m so fortunate to have had the experiences and opportunities that go along with the coaching profession; to me, it’s a no-brainer to give back to the game. I can’t even imagine not being a part of a team. The NABC motto – Guardians of the Game – is something that I strongly take to heart. As a member of the NABC and the NABC board, we strive to help make the profession, and the game that we all love, better for everyone. A great example of those efforts is the association’s Benevolent Fund, which is a terrific program. Unfortunately, not enough coaches are aware of it.
Giving back to the community is something that is important to virtually every college basketball coach and program throughout the country. Samaritans Feet, Coaches Vs. Cancer, Troops First, and groups that support educational values in young children, are just a few examples of organizations that teams and coaches participate with all over the country. Q: Recently, the NABC has taken a leadership role in the formation of ad hoc committees. The first was with the NCAA and the NBA on legislation on players declaring for the NBA draft, and more recently with the NCAA on student-athlete time demands and on the selection, seeding and bracketing for the NCAA Division I championship. As the NABC president, please tell us about the importance of these committees for college coaches.Jones: These committees allow college coaches to have a voice on specific issues that are important to them. It also provides access to the decision-makers to ensure our views are considered.
Q: In your career, you have gained a reputation as an outstanding teacher, helping numerous players move on to professional playing careers and a significant number of assistant coaches on to head coaching positions. How gratifying is that for you to have shared in their accomplishments?
Jones: We are committed to helping each of our student-athletes reach their potential both on and off the court. It is extremely gratifying when they are able to further their playing careers in the professional ranks, but it is equally rewarding to see the student-athletes in our program graduate and develop as young men. For any head coach, it is truly special to help an assistant coach move up the ranks. When you work so closely with another person, you are eager to see them succeed.
Q: The duties and responsibilities of college head coaches, especially in NCAA Division I, have changed considerably, maybe more than ever in the time since you accepted your first head coaching position at the age of 29. What are your thoughts on changes that have occurred and/or what you might like to see in the future?
Jones: This profession has changed so much since I became a head coach in 1990. There’s no question college coaches are responsible for more now than ever before. I am not sure all of the responsibilities are realistic, but I don’t anticipate it changing. It is an honor to be in a position to have a positive impact on young people’s lives, and we must understand the gravity of that role.
Q: In just three seasons at ODU, your teams have won 64 percent of your games with 27 and 25 wins in each of the last two seasons. What has been the recipe for your success and what is your hope for the future of Monarchs’ basketball?
Jones: Our future is extremely bright. I think we have worked incredibly hard, and hopefully worked smart as well. With great support from both our administration and fan base, first class facilities—especially the soon-to-be-completed Mitchum Basketball Performance Center – and the outstanding young men in our program, we have the opportunity to do something special.
