Colorado State head coach Niko Medved has completed his men’s basketball coaching staff for the 2021-22 season with the hiring of Sam Jones as assistant coach, announced today.
 
“We are fortunate to have someone with Sam’s experience and background join our staff,” Medved said. “He will bring great perspective with his knowledge of the international and NBA game and will be a great mentor for our players. I can’t wait for him to get started.”
 
“I’m very excited to join Niko’s staff with Ali and Brian,” Jones said. “I think Niko put together a dynamic staff to compliment the culture he has in place in Fort Collins. I’m ready to bring all of my international and NBA experience into that locker room. I’m proud to be a Ram!” 
 
Jones has spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a player development coordinator after having been on the coaching staff of the NBA G-League’s Canton Charge for three seasons from 2016-19, the last as associate head coach.
 
Jones started his coaching career in The Netherlands, working with Den Bosch Eiffel Towers for three before as an assistant coach before taking over as head coach of Den Bosch SPM Shoeters (club changed names). With SPM Shoeters, he led his team to the Dutch Basketball League and NBB Cup crowns in 2014-15 and Dutch Basketball Supercup title in 2015-16. He also spent his final three years in the Netherlands as the associate head coach with the Dutch Men’s National Team.
 
Prior to coaching, Jones played 10 seasons in Europe, including playing in the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Spain and Cyprus. During his time playing, he won two titles with Den Bosch Eiffel Towers and appeared in multiple All-Star games.
 
A 2000 graduate of Northwood University with a bachelor’s in business management with a minor in marketing management, Jones scored 1,324 points in his career with the Timberwolves, which ranks 16^th in their record book. He is Northwood’s all-time leader with 256 career steals, including the single-season record with 74 in 1999-2000. He also ranks third in career assists, having led the team in season assists three times while also averaging a team-best 16.3 points per game his senior season.
 
He is married to Khadija and the couple are parents to three children —daughter Leena and sons Sam and Dani.