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April 17, 2000 SportsLine.com wire reports |
WASHINGTON -- Former Virginia men's basketball coach Jeff Jones, forced
out two years ago after the Cavaliers' third consecutive sub-par season, is the
new coach at American University.
"His proven leadership ability and effectiveness as a teacher and as a
communicator, along with his passion for the game, made him the ideal choice to
take our program to a higher level," said Lee McElroy, American's athletic
director. "We've found a proven winner."
Jones, 39, guided Virginia to five NCAA Tournaments in eight seasons,
including a surprise run to the final eight in 1995. But the program went into
decline thereafter, going 41-47 over three years. Jones was forced to resign
March 15, 1998, finishing with a 146-104 record.
"I can't wait to get started. We have a lot of work to do," Jones, who
replaces Art Perry, said at a news conference. "I can guarantee, not wins, I
can guarantee we are going to start work right away."
Jones did not coach in the 1998-99 season, then joined Jerry DeGregorio as
an associate head coach at Rhode Island this season. The Rams finished 5-25.
He will join an American program in flux. The Eagles haven't had a winning
record since 1990-91, when they went 15-14. This season, despite an impressive
lineup, they finished 11-18, leading to Perry's dismissal. Perry's teams were
27-58 over three years.
The struggles have school officials considering moving from the midlevel
Colonial Athletic Association to the less-competitive Patriot League. During
the interview process, Jones said he wouldn't mind the switch, but several AU
players have said they would transfer before playing in the Patriot League.
South Carolina State coach Cy Alexander, Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall and
Connecticut assistant Karl Hobbs also interviewed for the job.
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