WACO, Texas – University of South Alabama assistant football coach Josh Jones has been selected to participate in the American Football Coaches Association's 2021 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, as announced by the organization on Monday.

The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance. In order to be eligible, applicants have to be born on or after Jan. 1, 1986, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach.

Due to the 2021 Convention being moved to the AFCA Digital library as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's AFCA 35 Under 35 representatives will get to take part in the program at the 2022 AFCA Convention.

Jones – chosen from a field of over 150 applicants – just completed his third season on the Jaguar staff as the program's cornerback coach. This fall, Davyn Flenord led the team with five pass break ups, while Devin Rockette and Ryan Melton had three each. Rockette also led the team with two interceptions.

During the 2019 season, Jones helped Travis Reed record team-leading totals with three interceptions and 10 other passes broken up — ranking among the top five in the conference in both categories — to be voted third-team all-Sun Belt. Jalen Thompson was also able to conclude his Jaguar career as the program's all-time leader with nine interceptions as well as tied for second in school history with 22 passes defensed.  Under his direction, Rockette was also able to contribute with six passes broken up and an interception in his first season as a starter at the collegiate level.

In his first year with the program, Jones' efforts help Darian Mills and Thompson rank among the top five in the Sun Belt Conference in passes defended per game after the two combined to break up 18 passes while intercepting five others.  In addition to Jaguar corner backs accounting for two-thirds of the team's interception total in the fall, Mills became just the third player at the position in program history to receive all-league recognition after he was named honorable mention all-Sun Belt his final season at the collegiate level.

Jones received All-America honors at two different schools during his collegiate playing career, first accomplishing the feat at Minnesota State-Moorhead in 2007 after leading NCAA Division II with 10 interceptions before being honored following his senior season in '09 at Harding (Ark.) when he was credited with 94 tackles and 11 passes broken up to go along with eight interceptions.  Jones played two seasons in the professional ranks — one in the Indoor Football League, one in the Arena Football League —before entering the coaching profession.

This marks the second straight season for a Jaguar assistant to be chose to participate in the program as last December, South wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator Pete Bennett was part of the 2020 program.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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