Bill Jones served the University of North Alabama as a student-athlete, head basketball coach and athletic director. The native of Lexington, Ala., lettered in basketball for the Lions from 1955-57 and then returned as head basketball coach for 14 seasons, beginning in 1974. He also served as assistant athletic director from 1974-77 before being named associate athletic director in 1977. He held that position until 1987 when he became the school's first full-time athletic director with no teaching or coaching responsibilities. At the time of his induction he ranked as the winningest basketball coach in UNA history with a 259-141 record for a .648 winning percentage. His team posted a remarkable 165-37 record in Flowers Hall for a remarkable .817 winning percentage. He led the Lions to the 1979 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 22-9 record and had five seasons with 20 wins or more.
He took UNA to six NCAA national tournaments, with five regional crowns (1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984) and four Final Four appearances (1977,1979,1980, 1984). He also won three Gulf South Conference championships (1977, 1981, 1984), three GSC Tournament titles (1981, 1984, 1988) and was named GSC and Kodak District Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1984. He received his B.S. degree in Physical Education and Biology from Florence State College (UNA) in 1958 and his Master's degree in Administration and Physical Education from Peabody College in 1961.
He also received his AAÂ Certificate from the University of Alabama. He began his coaching career at Yuma (Colo.) High School, then went to Marion Institute and the University of Montevallo before returning to lead the Lions. His career coaching career record was 493-310 in 29 seasons and his career collegiate record was 344-193 in 19 seasons.
He is deceased. The UNA Athletic Complex was named in his honor in 2011 as the Bill Jones Athletic Complex.
Bill Jones Career at UNA:
Basketball Player (1955-57),
Head Basketball Coach (1957-88),
Assistant Athletic Director (1974-77),
Associate Athletic Director (1977-87),
Athletic Director (1987-94)
Â
