ODU will hire former star guard Mike Jones as its new men’s basketball coach, sources say
NORFOLK — Old Dominion is turning to its past to straighten out its future.
Mike Jones, a former ODU guard who has coached as an assistant most recently at Maryland, will be named the Monarchs’ next men’s basketball coach, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed Thursday.
Jones, who starred at ODU from 1991-95, replaces Jeff Jones, who retired this week after a 41-year career. The two men are not related.
Mike Jones was an associate head coach at Virginia Tech from 2021-23 before accepting a job as an assistant at Maryland. From 2002-21, Jones led Maryland’s storied DeMatha High to a 511-119 (.811) record as its head coach after taking over from the legendary Morgan Wooten.
Additionally, Jones worked with USA Basketball from 2004-21.
Jones will become just the Monarchs’ third new head coach since Blaine Taylor was hired before the 2001-02 season. Jeff Jones guided the program for 11 seasons, leaving the team in December to address health issues.
ODU is 7-23 overall and 3-14 in the Sun Belt Conference this season. The Monarchs will finish with their worst record since going 5-25 in 2012-13.
Mike Jones was a member of the All-Colonial Athletic Association second team and earned CAA All-Tournament team honors as a senior, averaging16.5 points per game. Jones led the Monarchs to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1992 and ’95, and he finished his ODU career with 1,166 points.
Jones played professionally in the CBA and International Basketball Association, where he was all-league first team in 1997. He also played professionally in Portugal, Hong Kong, Finland and the Dominican Republic.
David Hall, david.hall@pilotonline.com.
