the nation’s 25 best recruiters in 2005.
“He’s one of those people that can relate to a lot of different people,” former player Dave Bliss said. “His knowledge of the game is excellent and his people skills are excellent. In that respect, he can really differentiate himself from a lot of other guys.”
In addition to Georgia, Jones had previously worked un- der John Beilein at Richmond from 2000-2002 and during the early stages of his rebuilding project at West Virginia in 2002-2003. Prior to coming to the Rams, Jones had been working to turn around programs in distress. So when the opportunity to work at VCU arose, he jumped at the chance.
“I feel like I died and went to heaven,” Jones joked. “It’s a big difference going to a program that’s used to winning, as opposed to a program that’s not used to winning. The expectations are higher from the outside looking in, from the community, from the administration, but it’s also higher from the players. They are used to it. It’s an addictive feeling and they want to keep doing it.”
Jones didn’t exactly grow up wanting to be a coach, even if he was living a basketball lifestyle as a kid. Jones’ father was a star guard in the ABA and the family moved from New Orleans to Memphis to Utah between 1967 and 1974. In 1974, Jimmy Jones signed with the Bullets in the NBA, where he remained until a torn ACL ended his career in 1977. After his retirement, the Joneses stayed in nearby Silver Spring, Md.
Mike Jones grew up around basketball, but he was also heavily involved in baseball and soccer. It wasn’t until he got to Paint Branch High School that he decided to turn his attention fully on basketball.
After an outstanding high school career, he stayed close to home and attended Howard University, where he played basketball and majored in zoology. His initial plan was to become a doctor. Jones starred for the Bi- son for four years and as a freshman, he forged a friend- ship with Felton, who he calls the biggest influence on his coaching career.
Once he graduated in 1990, Jones had turned his atten- tion away from the medical field and onto basketball. Although he took a job at an animal testing facility after graduation, he was also spending his nights as the head junior varsity and assistant varsity coach at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.
“I knew I liked coaching, but once I started coaching that team, I knew right then,” Jones said. “You can feel the difference between a job and a career.”
In 1994, Jones took his first collegiate job – at his alma mater. In addition, he also married his college sweet- heart, Sharon, that year.
He later moved onto to Furman, where he stayed from 1997-2000. He joined Beilein’s staff at Richmond in 2000 and helped the Spiders to a pair of 20-win seasons and three straight NIT berths.
PERSONAL Birthdate: April 30, 1965 Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Family: Sharon (Wife), Nate (13) and Miles (9)
EDUCATION
Undergraduate: Howard, 1990 PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: Howard, 1985-1989 COACHING EXPERIENCE 1990-94:
Sidwell Friends High School Assistant Coach
Howard University Assistant Coach
1994-97:
Furman University Assistant Coach
1997-2000:
University of Richmond Assistant Coach
2000-02:
West Virginia University Assistant Coach
2002-03:
University of Georgia Assistant Coach
2003-2009: Assistant Coach
2009-present: VCU
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