BIRMINGHAM – Legendary Jax State men's basketball head coach Bill Jones has been named to the Gulf South Conference's 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Jones, the Gamecocks' all-time winningest coach at 449 wins over his 24-year career and architect of the 1985 Division II National Championship season, has previously been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the Jax State Athletic Hall of Fame and was a charter member of the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame.
He joins Delta State football's Josh Bright, Valdosta State Director of Athletics Herb Reinhard, Alabama-Huntsville softball's Kristin Spencer Spearman and West Florida softball's Krissy Styrna as the newest members of the GSC Hall of Fame. This marks the conference's tenth Hall of Fame class, which including the new elected class, now stands at 50, since its inception in 2014.
"We are excited and pleased to be able to induct and celebrate all that this hall of fame class has accomplished," said GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson. "Their careers, collectively and individually, are the embodiment of the Gulf South Conference and what it has continually strived to achieve for the last 50-plus years. Congratulations to all of this year's members."
The GSC Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be celebrated Thursday, May 30 as part of the conference's annual award ceremony at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Hotel in Pensacola, Fla. Information regarding tickets or how to watch will be released at a later date.
In the GSC, Jones served as head coach for 21 years, including 19 at Jax State (1974-95) before the school transitioned up to Division I. His 399-147 (.731)overall record as a GSC head coach, ranks second in career winning percentage and tied-second in wins. He led the program to six GSC regular season titles and four tournament crowns. His Gamecocks made eight NCAA tournament appearances, reaching eight NCAA Division II Elite Eights, advancing to the Div. II Final Four twice, and winning the national title in 1985. Jones was a three-time GSC Coach of the Year and coached four GSC Players of the Year, a GSC Rookie of the Year, two GSC Freshmen of the Year, 30 All-GSC Players and two All-Americans.
"We are so happy to see Coach Jones inducted into the Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame," said Jax State Director of Athletics, Greg Seitz. "It's great to see coach selected in his first year on the ballot, which speaks volumes to the success we enjoyed under his leadership during our time in the GSC. Coach Jones is very deserving of this honor."
Born September 5, 1944 in Guntersville, Ala., Jones played collegiately at Snead State Community College before joining Jax State's basketball squad in 1964. As a Gamecock, he led the team 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. After beginning his coaching career at Florence State, now North Alabama, in 1972, he returned to the Gem of the Hills two years later to begin his 24-year run at Jax State.
On Feb. 22, 2018, the court inside Pete Mathews Coliseum was named in his honor. His No. 12 jersey hangs in the rafters above, as Jones remains the only Jax State player to have his number retired.
