University of South Alabama Athletics

Known as the father of Jaguar Football, Joey Jones was the first-ever head coach of the football program, and became the first-ever member of that program to be inducted into the hall of fame. After starting the program in 2009, Jones went on to coach the Jaguars during their first-nine seasons of competition. He led South to 19 straight victories in its first two years of play, including undefeated marks in 2009 and 2010. Jones finished his time at South Alabama with an overall record of 52-50, which included 46 victories against four-year schools, with 37 of those coming against NCAA Division I opponents. Both are the highest totals in program history. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2013, and led the Jags to their first victory over an SEC opponent with a 21-20 defeat of Mississippi State in the 2016 opener. He also guided USA to its first-ever win over a ranked opponent when the Jaguars defeated number 19 San Diego State 42-24 that same year. Jones coached 39 individuals who earned all-Sun Belt honors on 52 occasions during his career, including the first-ever individual award winner in program history when Jeremy Reaves won 2017 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Jones helped six student-athletes earn invitations to the Reese’s Senior Bowl right here in Mobile, and saw 24 of his players go on to earn professional opportunities in the National Football League, including South Alabama’s first-ever selection in the NFL Draft, Gerald Everett in 2017.