Jackson, TN – When the USJ Bruins hit the court this fall, they will be under new leadership.
According to a press release from Pamela Stanfield – USJ’s Director of Marketing & Communications – athletic director Michael Stroup has appointed Coach Jeffery Jones to lead the Boys Bruins Basketball program with the assistance of Ryan Yates.
Athletic Director Michael Stroup shared, “We’re very excited to welcome Coach Jeffrey Jones to the Bruin family. With more than 20 plus years of coaching experience at the college level, I know Coach Jones will be an excellent mentor for our student-athletes in several different areas.
“In my conversations with him, Jeffery expressed his admiration for the USJ community and is excited to get to work for this basketball program. I look forward to supporting him for many successful seasons as a Bruin.”
Jeff Jones recently served as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach for the University of the Virgin Islands and Southern Poly State University. He also held Associate Head Coach positions with NCAA Division II schools Kennesaw State University and Fort Valley State University.
Coach Jones joins the Bruins with an extensive background in collegiate coaching and recruiting and a long history of developing charitable and philanthropic programs with his players. While at Kennesaw State, Jones created a middle school basketball league to help bring awareness of the mens’ basketball program to the community.
While at Southern Poly State University, Coach Jones established the HOPE program (Helping Our Pupils Excel) with his athletes to help mentor disadvantaged youth in the city of Atlanta.
While at the University of the Virgin Islands, he organized free stress-relieving basketball camps. He also assisted with food transportation for the island after Hurricane Irma.
When asked about his new appointment as Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, Jones shared, “I look forward to working with our players and am very excited to get started. I am also honored to be a part of the long tradition of coaching excellence at USJ.”
Coach Jones mentors his players at every opportunity while they are in school, with many earning advanced degrees.
He instills the value of higher education within his players and has encouraged hundreds of his students to excel not only on the court but also academically. Over the years, Jeff has received a multitude of awards, including the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year and the Southern States Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Jeff and his wife Teala will reside in Jackson. They have four grown children who all live in Atlanta. Coach Jones will have a meet and greet with all interested parents and students on Thursday, June 3, at 6 p.m. in the Dement Gymnasium at USJ.
(PHOTO: Jeff Jones)
