Jason Jones on Alabama football return: ‘Special places to me
Jason Jones, a Tuscaloosa native and former University of Alabama defensive back, is returning to his alma mater to join the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff as an assistant to the defensive backs. Jones played for Alabama from 1996 to 1999, contributing to the team’s 1999 SEC Championship victory. After graduating in 2001 with a degree in financial planning, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2003.
Over the years, Jones has amassed extensive coaching experience, particularly with defensive backs. He has held positions at several institutions, including Tulsa, Rice, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Florida Atlantic University, and most recently, the University of North Carolina. At Ole Miss, he served as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, where he was instrumental in developing players like Senquez Golson, a consensus First Team All-American in 2014.
Jones’s return to Alabama is not just a professional move but also a personal homecoming. Reflecting on his time as a player, he once described his recruitment by Alabama as a surreal experience, stating, “When he [Coach Saban] said that, I was like wait a second, did he just say he wanted me on his team? I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. I was stuck and couldn’t even think.”
His journey from a local high school standout at Central High School in Tuscaloosa to a seasoned coach with a wealth of experience across various programs underscores his deep-rooted connection to Alabama football. Jones’s return to the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff brings his career full circle, allowing him to contribute to the program that played a pivotal role in his development as both a player and a coach.
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