Robert Jones
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach

Phone: (757) 823-9192
Email: rljones@nsu.edu

Robert Jones is in his third season as an assistant coach on the NSU men’s basketball staff. His primary responsibilities include developing the Spartans’ perimeter players and serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator.

In his first year as assistant coach (2007-08), Jones helped the Spartans secure their second winning record as a Division I program (16-15). The Spartans also notched their best-ever MEAC record (11-5), tying for second place in the regular-season standings. Jones also helped tutor 2009 All-MEAC players Michael Deloach and Corey Lyons, who led the team to its first-ever MEAC Tournament championship game appearance.

Jones came to NSU after spending two seasons (2005-07) as the head varsity boys basketball coach at St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, N.Y. His teams compiled a 32-15 record competing in New York's highest classification (Class AA). Under Jones' direction, St. Mary's advanced to two consecutive Nassau-Suffolk Catholic League championship games. As head coach, Jones sent three of his players to Division I institutions. One of those is current Spartan forward Marcos Tamares.

Jones was the head freshman team coach and an assistant varsity coach at St. Mary's in 2004-05. That year, the varsity team went 25-1 and finished the season ranked 10th nationally by USA Today. Jones helped tutor four more future Division I players, including University of North Carolina graduate and 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers draftee Danny Green.

Between stints as a high school and AAU coach, 13 of Jones’ players have earned Division I scholarships, including current Spartans Tamares, Aleek Pauline and Christian Morris.

Prior to joining the high school ranks, Jones served for three seasons as an assistant coach at a pair of Division III schools. Jones was an assistant coach at Bard College in 2001-02 prior to serving a two-year stint at his alma mater, the State University of New York at New Paltz. There, Jones helped the Hawks reach the SUNYAC championship game in 2003.

Jones was a four-year letterwinner from 1997-2001 at New Paltz. Jones played under current Spartans’ head coach Anthony Evans, who was an assistant at New Paltz from 1997-99. Jones was a three-time All-SUNYAC selection and an honorable mention Division III All-American in 2000. Jones is No. 6 all-time in school history in scoring (1,321 points) and is second all-time in rebounds (878). He earned his bachelor's degree in business management from New Paltz in 2002.

 

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