MOBILE, Ala. ? Former Birmingham Southern head coach and Mobile native Joey Jones has been named as the University of South Alabama’s first head football coach, Director of Athletics Joe Gottfried announced today. Jones was introduced in a public welcoming ceremony at the Mitchell Center on campus at 11 a.m. this morning.
Jones, 45, returns to his hometown after two years at Birmingham Southern, where he was hired in 2006 to restart the school’s football program there. After spending a year overseeing administrative aspects of the program such as hiring assistant coaches, designing facilities and recruiting players for the Division III program, he led his 2007 squad of 126 freshmen to a 3-7 overall record, including a pair of wins over established junior college programs.
“I am excited about the opportunity ahead of me,” Jones said. “I want to say thanks to the University of South Alabama for entrusting the football program to me. I am very passionate about getting started. This is a great area for football players and I want to make sure kids have a hard time leaving Mobile for other places. I like the fact that the university has a great plan in place, dating all the way back to 2000.They went through a deliberate process.”
Success has followed Jones throughout his career, both as a coach and as a player. Before moving into the college ranks, he compiled an impressive 125-38 (.767) record in 13 years at the at the high school level, including a 10-year run at Birmingham’s Mountain Brook High School, where he was 101-27 from 1996-2005.
After inheriting a program that had endured nine consecutive losing seasons, Jones directed the Spartans to the 1996 Class 6A state championship game, four region titles, two semifinal appearances and three quarterfinal appearances during his tenure.
Jones began his head coaching career at Dora High School, where he registered a 24-11 mark in three seasons (1991-93). From 1989-90, he served on the Briarwood Christian staff.
“I can’t thank (University President) Gordon Moulton enough for his support through this entire process ? from the planning last fall through the hiring of a coach today,” Gottfried said. “We are excited that the search has been completed and we have found our first coach. Joey is a very good coach and he will do a great job getting the program going.
A graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in business administration, Jones became one of the most beloved Crimson Tide players during his tenure, which began under the tutelage of legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. In Jones’ four seasons in Tuscaloosa, the Tide compiled a record of 35-12-1, including two Cotton Bowl appearances. He finished his career with 71 receptions, 1,386 yards and 15 touchdowns, ranking third on the career touchdown receptions chart and seventh in career receiving yards. As a junior in 1982, Jones had eight TD receptions, which ranks tied for third in UA single-season record book.
Jones earned All-Southeastern Conference honors as a senior after hauling in 31 receptions for 468 yards and five scores. He was later selected to Alabama’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s and played professionally with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
A Murphy High School product, Jones and his wife, Elise, have three children: Joe, Jake and Caroline.
