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Will Jones is the name of several notable basketball players and coaches. This includes Willie Jones, an American college basketball coach for North Carolina A&T Aggies from 2019 to 2022, and Wil Jones, an American basketball player and coach from Washington, D.C. who played for the Baltimore Bullets and later coached at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Norfolk State University. There is also a reference to a Will Jones who played for Butler and another who played for Boston University.
Will Jones' Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Stigler Jones |
| Nickname | Willie Jones |
| Known For | Coaching |
| Date of Birth | October 26, 1938 |
| Date of Death | March 12, 2014 |
| Height | 6'1" (185 cm) |
| Position | Guard |
| Teams Coached | North Carolina A&T Aggies, University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Norfolk State University |
| Achievements | MEAC Coach of the Year (2019-20 season), Retired Number at American University, First African-American Coach in Northern Virginia |
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What You'll Learn
Wil Jones' career as a basketball player
Wil Jones, born William Stigler Jones, was an American basketball player and coach from Washington, D.C. Jones was known for his shooting abilities and confident personality on the court.
At Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., Jones, known then as Willie Jones, was the city's leading scorer in 1956. The following year, he joined American University (AU), where he played on the city's first racially integrated college basketball team. Alongside former Spingarn H.S. star Dick Wells, Jones led the American University Eagles to three consecutive Mason-Dixon and Eastern Regional championships.
In the 1960 NCAA Tournament, Jones set a scoring record with 54 points against the Division II National Champions, Evansville, on their home court. This performance earned him a place on the All-American College Division first team and an invitation to the Olympic Trials in Denver, Colorado. Jones' number was eventually retired by the Eagles, an honour shared by only one other AU player, NBA star Kermit Washington.
Following his college career, Jones played for the Baltimore Bullets of the Eastern Professional Basketball League, alongside Bill Spivey and Sherman White. Despite his impressive scoring abilities, with Georgetown coach John Thompson describing him as "a shooter's shooter", Jones ultimately pursued a coaching career instead of playing in the NBA.
Jones' coaching career included notable stints at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Norfolk State University. He was the first coach to hire an NCAA Female Assistant Basketball Coach, Cheryl Roberts, at UDC in 1981. During his time at UDC, he also recruited talented players such as Michael Britt and Earl Jones, leading the UDC Firebirds to back-to-back NCAA Division II Final Fours in 1982 and 1983. However, his tenure at UDC was not without controversy, as eligibility irregularities led to his firing in 1988. After a five-year absence, he was reinstated as head coach by legal order. In 1999, Jones moved to Norfolk State University, where he coached the Spartans for three seasons.
Wil Jones passed away on March 12, 2014, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, due to pancreatic cancer. He left behind a legacy as both a talented player and a trailblazing coach, remembered fondly by those in the basketball community.
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Wil Jones as a basketball coach
Wil Jones, born William Stigler Jones, was an American basketball player and coach known for his flamboyance and dramatic flair. He began his basketball career as a player at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., where he was known as a dynamo on the court, leading the city in scoring in 1956 and setting records. Jones then attended American University on a scholarship, where he continued to excel as a player, breaking every scoring record in school history and earning the nickname "the Muhammad Ali of basketball" from former Georgetown University coach John Thompson.
After his college career, Jones became a coach, first at the high school level at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, where he led his boys' teams to a 95-21 record in the 1970s. He then served as an assistant coach to Lefty Driesell at the University of Maryland, where he recruited excellent African American players. In 1979, Jones was named head coach at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where he led his team to a national championship and became known for his stylish suits and sparkling jewelry on the sidelines. During his time at UDC, Jones hired Cheryl Roberts, one of the country's first female assistant coaches for a men's team, and recruited talented players such as Earl Jones and Michael Britt.
However, Jones' tenure at UDC was not without controversy. In 1988, eligibility irregularities were found in his program, and he was eventually fired. After a five-year hiatus, Jones was reinstated as head coach by legal order. In 1999, he moved to Norfolk State University, where he coached for three seasons before passing away in 2014 from pancreatic cancer. Throughout his coaching career, Jones was known for his confidence, charisma, and emotional displays on the sidelines, reflecting his passion for the game and his ability to connect with his players and the crowds.
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Jones' impact on basketball history
Wil Jones, born William Stigler Jones, made a significant impact on the history of basketball. As a player, he was known for his scoring abilities and flamboyant style. Jones played for DC's first racially integrated college basketball team under Mexican-American coach David Carrasco at American University. Together with teammate Dick Wells, Jones led the American University Eagles (AU) to three consecutive Mason-Dixon and Eastern Regional championships.
Jones' scoring prowess was highlighted in the 1960 NCAA tournament, where he set a record by scoring 54 points against National Champion (Division II) Evansville. This achievement earned him a place on the first-team, All-American College Division squad, and an invitation to the Olympic Trials in Denver, Colorado. Following his college career, Jones played for the Baltimore Bullets of the Eastern Professional Basketball League, further showcasing his talent on the court.
However, it was as a coach that Jones truly left his mark on the sport. He began his coaching career at Robinson Secondary School, becoming the first African American coach in Northern Virginia. Jones then took on assistant coaching roles, notably working with Lefty Driesell at Maryland, where he successfully recruited excellent African American players.
In 1979, Jones was named head coach at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where he achieved notable success. He hired the NCAA's first female assistant basketball coach, Cheryl Roberts, in 1981, demonstrating his commitment to diversity and inclusion in the sport. Jones also recruited talented players, such as Michael Britt and Earl Jones, who helped lead the UDC Firebirds to back-to-back NCAA Division II Final Fours. In 1982, Jones won the Division II national title with UDC.
Jones' impact extended beyond his own teams. He faced a setback in 1988 when eligibility irregularities were found in his UDC program, resulting in his reassignment and eventual firing. However, he successfully fought for reinstatement and later moved to Norfolk State University, where he coached the Spartans at the Division I level.
Jones' personality and coaching style were summed up by Georgetown coach John Thompson, who described him as "the Muhammad Ali of basketball," highlighting his confidence and impact on the court. Jones passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazer, a skilled recruiter, and an influential coach who made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball.
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Jones' legacy and death
Wil Jones, born William Stigler Jones, was an American basketball player and coach. He was known for his coaching tenures at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Norfolk State University. Jones is also appreciated for hiring NCAA's first female assistant basketball coach, Cheryl Roberts, at UDC in 1981.
During his time as a player, Jones set a record in the 1960 NCAA tournament, scoring 54 points against National Champion (Division II) Evansville on their home court. Following his college career, he played for the Baltimore Bullets of the Eastern Professional Basketball League. Georgetown coach John Thompson described Jones as "a shooter's shooter" with "a whole lot of trash [talk]".
Jones' coaching career began at Robinson Secondary School, where he became the first African American coach in Northern Virginia. He then moved on to UDC, where he recruited leaper Michael Britt, who teamed with Earl Jones to lead the UDC Firebirds to back-to-back NCAA Division II Final Fours. In 1988, however, eligibility irregularities were found in Jones' UDC program, and he was fired. After a five-year hiatus, Jones was reinstated as head coach by legal order.
In 1999, Jones moved to Norfolk State University, where he coached for three seasons. Jones passed away on March 12, 2014, from pancreatic cancer in Virginia Beach, Virginia, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential coaches in college basketball history.
There is also a Willie Jones, who was a carpet installer and lived in Capitol Heights, Maryland. He was found murdered in his home in 2009, stabbed multiple times. This Willie Jones was the father of Laverne Jones.
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Jones' influence on women's basketball
I found several people named Will(ie) Jones related to basketball:
Willie Jones (basketball coach)
Willie Jones is an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for North Carolina A&T Aggies from 2019 to 2022 and was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year for the 2019-20 season. Jones was fired in 2022 but left a lasting impact on the team, leading them to a second-place MEAC finish during his tenure.
Wil Jones (basketball player and coach)
Wil Jones, born William Stigler Jones, was an American basketball player and coach known for his coaching tenures at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and Norfolk State University. As a player, he was a star at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., and later joined American University's first racially integrated college basketball team. Jones set scoring records and was named to the first-team, All-American College Division squad. After his playing career, he became a successful coach, known for hiring the NCAA's first Female Assistant Basketball Coach, Cheryl Roberts, at UDC in 1981. This significant hire demonstrated Jones's commitment to diversity and inclusion in basketball and likely inspired other programs to follow suit. Jones's influence extended beyond his coaching record, as he helped pave the way for more women to enter the world of basketball coaching and leadership.
Willie Jones (basketball player)
Willie Jones was a former NBA player for the Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately, I could not find more information on his influence on women's basketball specifically.
Willie Jones (basketball coach)
I found another Willie Jones who is an American college basketball coach, but details on his influence on women's basketball are scarce.
Please clarify which Will(ie) Jones you are interested in if you would like more information.
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