After a coaching career spanning more than 40 years, including seven years as head coach at Texas Lutheran University, Tommy Jones has announced his retirement as head men’s basketball coach of the Bulldogs.
"I think next year, with the way the league is set up, this team is in a position to do extremely well," Jones said. "I think I’m leaving [the program] in good shape, and I hope whoever comes after me feels that way, too. There are some good players on this team, and they’re good guys. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished."
A veteran of both the high school and collegiate coaching ranks, Jones spent the past seven seasons building up the Texas Lutheran program and leading his squad into a new conference, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, this season.
"Tommy Jones was an excellent role model for the young men involved with Texas Lutheran’s men’s basketball program," Texas Lutheran Athletic Director Bill Miller said. "Not only was he a great coach, but he was an even better person. We want to thank him for everything that he has done for TLU Basketball. We also want to congratulate him on an outstanding coaching career and wish him all the best in his retirement."
Jones inherited a squad that won just four games the year before, finishing last in the ASC West Division. He built the program back up from there, and by his fourth season, the Bulldogs had won 10 conference games and 11 games total, their most since the 2004-05 campaign. In his fourth and fifth seasons, Jones guided the Bulldogs to 20 combined ASC wins.
During his seven seasons at the helm of the Bulldog program, Jones coached three All-Conference performers. Four players were named to ASC All-Freshmen teams during his tenure, while five were named to All-Defensive squads.
Jones was hired on as the head men’s basketball coach for Texas Lutheran prior to the 2007-08 season. He brought plenty of coaching experience to the table for the Bulldogs, coaching with a number of NCAA Division I programs along with extensive experience in the high school and junior college ranks.
The search for the next Texas Lutheran men’s basketball coach will begin immediately.
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