Bill Jones to be Inducted into Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
12/1/2017 11:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE – Legendary Jacksonville State men's basketball head coach and student-athlete Bill Jones will be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 28 2018, as announced Thursday by the ASHOF.
Jones, who was inducted into JSU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991, joins former Gamecocks Dieter Brock ('92), Don Salls ('92), Jodie Connell ('96), Rudy Abbott ('05), Charley Pell ('11), Eric Davis ('13) and Todd Jones ('17) in the ASHOF.
Jones is part of an eight-man 2018 class that includes professional golfer Stewart Cink, former Alabama and NFL fullback Johnny Davis, former NCAA and NFL head coach Chan Gailey, retired MLB pitcher Tim Hudson, NCAA gymnast Kathy McMinn, former All-Pro NFL receiver Terrell Owens and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.
Born September 5, 1944 in Guntersville, Ala., Jones played collegiately at Snead State Community College before joining Jacksonville State's basketball squad in 1964. At JSU, he led the Gamecocks in scoring in each of his two seasons. His senior year he led in free throw shooting at 84.7 percent and was named to the Alabama College Conference All-Conference Team.
To this day, he is the only JSU men's basketball player to have his number retired. His No. 12 hangs from the rafters of Pete Mathews Coliseum.
He began his head coaching career at Florence State, now the University of North Alabama, in 1972. After two years, he became the head coach at Jacksonville State and began a string of 11 seasons with at least 20 wins.
During his 24-season tenure, Jones was named as named the 1985 Kodak National Coach of the Year and received Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honors three times. His highest honor came when his 1985 Gamecocks captured the NCAA Division II National Championship.
Upon retirement following the 1997-1998 seasons, his career record at JSU stood at 449-196, making him the winningest basketball coach in school history. Along with being inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame, he is also a member of the Amateur Softball Hall of Fame and was a charter member of the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame.
Jones, who was inducted into JSU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991, joins former Gamecocks Dieter Brock ('92), Don Salls ('92), Jodie Connell ('96), Rudy Abbott ('05), Charley Pell ('11), Eric Davis ('13) and Todd Jones ('17) in the ASHOF.
Jones is part of an eight-man 2018 class that includes professional golfer Stewart Cink, former Alabama and NFL fullback Johnny Davis, former NCAA and NFL head coach Chan Gailey, retired MLB pitcher Tim Hudson, NCAA gymnast Kathy McMinn, former All-Pro NFL receiver Terrell Owens and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.
Born September 5, 1944 in Guntersville, Ala., Jones played collegiately at Snead State Community College before joining Jacksonville State's basketball squad in 1964. At JSU, he led the Gamecocks in scoring in each of his two seasons. His senior year he led in free throw shooting at 84.7 percent and was named to the Alabama College Conference All-Conference Team.
To this day, he is the only JSU men's basketball player to have his number retired. His No. 12 hangs from the rafters of Pete Mathews Coliseum.
He began his head coaching career at Florence State, now the University of North Alabama, in 1972. After two years, he became the head coach at Jacksonville State and began a string of 11 seasons with at least 20 wins.
During his 24-season tenure, Jones was named as named the 1985 Kodak National Coach of the Year and received Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honors three times. His highest honor came when his 1985 Gamecocks captured the NCAA Division II National Championship.
Upon retirement following the 1997-1998 seasons, his career record at JSU stood at 449-196, making him the winningest basketball coach in school history. Along with being inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame, he is also a member of the Amateur Softball Hall of Fame and was a charter member of the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame.
Sunday, February 08
Saturday, January 24
Sunday, January 18
Thursday, January 08
