Bill Jones (basketball, born 1936) explained

Bill Jones
Birth Date:12 May 1936
Birth Place:Lexington, Alabama, U.S.
Death Place:Florence, Alabama, U.S.
Player Years1:1954–1957
Player Team1:North Alabama
Player Positions:Guard
Coach Years1:196?–1974
Coach Team1:Various high schools
Coach Years2:1974–1998
Coach Team2:North Alabama
Overall Record:251–141 (college)
Championships:NCAA Division II (1979)
4× NCAA Division II Final Fours (1977, 1979, 1980, 1984)
Gulf South regular season (1977, 1981, 1984)
3× Gulf South Tournament (1981, 1984, 1988)
Awards:2× Gulf South Coach of the Year
Admin Years1:1988–1994
Admin Team1:North Alabama

William L. Jones (May 12, 1936 – August 19, 2008)[1] was an American college basketball head coach and athletic director. He is best known for leading the North Alabama Lions men's basketball program from 1974 to 1988, winning the 1979 NCAA Division II national championship, as well as appearances in three other Final Fours.[2] The 1978–79 North Alabama team was the first college basketball team from the state of Alabama to win a national championship.[1] After 14 head coaching seasons in which he won three conference regular season championships, three conference tournaments, made six NCAA Tournaments, and compiled a 251–141 overall record, Jones retired to become North Alabama's first full-time athletic director in 1988.[3] He led the school's athletics for six years before retiring in August 1994.[3] On August 19, 2008, Jones died in Glenwood Rehabilitation and Convalescent Center in Florence, Alabama.[2] He was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[3]

He was the grandfather of former National Football League player Barrett Jones.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UNA legend (and Barrett's grandfather) Bill Jones earns induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. AL.com. May 17, 2013. April 21, 2018.
  2. News: Bill Jones Obituary. Times Daily. 2013. April 21, 2018.
  3. Web site: Bill Jones. Inductees. Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. 2013. April 21, 2018.