Arkansas State employed Butch Jones as its new head coach Saturday, a chance the previous Tennessee coach advised ESPN he was “grateful and humbled” to be getting.
Jones labored this season as a particular assistant to Alabama head coach Nick Saban, after spending the earlier two seasons as an offensive analyst on the Crimson Tide’s workers. Jones mentioned the time he spent with Saban was invaluable.
“I acquired emotional within the locker room after the sport,” mentioned Jones, who went on to the Arkansas State campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas, following Alabama’s 52-3 win at Arkansas on Saturday.
“These youngsters at Alabama imply a lot to me, and what Coach Saban and Ms. Terry (Saban’s spouse) didn’t just for me, however my household, I am going to by no means be capable of repay them,” Jones mentioned. “Everyone at Alabama, from day one, welcomed me with open arms, and it is an expertise that helped me get again to main a program once more.”
Jones, who was within the working for the Rutgers and Colorado State head-coaching jobs a 12 months in the past, mentioned having the prospect to work so intently with Saban will make him a way more full coach in his fourth head-coaching cease.
Jones spent 5 seasons as coach of the Volunteers, going 34-27, although simply 14-24 within the SEC. Jones led the Vols to consecutive nine-win seasons in 2015 and 2016 — together with Tennessee’s solely win over Florida prior to now 16 conferences, and the Vols’ solely two wins over Georgia prior to now 11 — however was fired with two video games left within the 2017 season with a 4-6 document. Tennessee would end that season 0-Eight in SEC play.
Earlier than that Jones had profitable stints at Cincinnati (23-14 in three seasons, together with a Large East convention championship in 2011) and Central Michigan (27-13). Jones’ groups have gone to bowl video games in eight of his 11 seasons as a head coach.
“You be taught a lot from each cease alongside the way in which, and also you at all times work to use what you’ve got discovered to the subsequent place,” Jones mentioned. “However when you may have the chance to go inside a program like Alabama’s and be round arguably one of the best faculty coach that has ever coached the sport, each day is a clinic.”
Jones joins Lane Kiffin, Mike Locksley and Mario Cristobal as former head coaches who labored beneath Saban after which went on to land different head-coaching alternatives.
Jones replaces Blake Anderson at Arkansas State. Anderson left to take the Utah State head-coaching job after seven seasons with a 51-37 document and two Solar Belt championships. The Purple Wolves have been one of the crucial constant applications within the convention, although they slipped to 4-7 this 12 months.
“Butch Jones’ excellent document of success at each the [Group of 5] and [Power 5] ranges is obvious, and we’re excited to having him main our soccer program into the longer term,” Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir mentioned in an announcement. “He’s the one coach during the last 12 years to steer Tennessee to back-to-back 9 win seasons, and he led Cincinnati and Central Michigan to 4 convention championships over a six-year interval.
“Butch has additionally labored with one of many most-well-respected coaches in historical past in Nick Saban the final three years at Alabama. Our candidate pool was improbable, however following in depth and constructive conversations with Butch, whereas additionally his profitable historical past, teaching and management talents and imaginative and prescient for our program, we turned assured he was the clear option to be our subsequent head coach.”
Jones was capable of meet with the Arkansas State crew on Saturday night.
“It was nice to be again in entrance of a room,” Jones mentioned. “I coveted being a head coach once more, however you are at all times searching for that proper match. This was the best match.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
— to www.espn.com
The post Butch Jones credits Alabama experience for helping him land Arkansas State head-coaching job appeared first on Correct Success.
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