Jones joins RU staff
Kevin Jones has joined the Radford University men’s basketball staff as Assistant Director of Basketball Operations and Video Coordinator, head coach Mike Jones announced Monday afternoon.
In his new role with the Highlanders, Kevin Jones will oversee all things video and technology, aid in player development through video study, manage video edits and highlights and assist with maintaining a recruiting database.
Kevin Jones, who is not related to Mike Jones or redshirt sophomore guard Carlik Jones, comes to Radford from Norfolk State where he was an assistant coach from 2015-2018. He helped guide the Spartans to back-to-back second-place finishes in the MEAC and coached three All-MEAC guards.
Marino promoted to director of operations
One of the hardest working staff members in all of Radford University Athletics, Jaren Marino, has been promoted to Director of Basketball Operations for the Radford men’s basketball program, effective immediately.
Marino joined the program as Assistant Director of Basketball Operations prior to the 2017-18 season and played an integral role in Radford’s most successful season to date. With his help, the Highlanders earned their third Big South title and secured the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history en route to a record 23 wins.
In his role, Marino oversees the daily operations of the men’s basketball program, including the logistics of budget, game-day management, coordination of managers’ duties, team travel arrangements and equipment coordination.
Before moving to the New River Valley, Marino spent the 2016-17 season at Louisburg College. The Hurricanes posted a 30-5 record with a 19-1 conference record and made it to the NJCAA National Championship.
Ridgeway to ACC Network
ESPN recently informed the Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock that 2011 Virginia Tech graduate, Jacob Ridgway, is joining the ESPN/ACC Network programming team. Ridgway has served seven years with ESPN in its production department, as well as its management operations team.
The Roanoke native earned a degree in Communication – Electronic & Print Journalism from Tech and credits the Virginia Tech Department of Communication with helping introduce him to ESPN during his time as an undergraduate in Blacksburg.
A member of Virginia Tech’s Honors College, Ridgway was part of a group of students who created their own college football class that helped teach other students about the history, tradition and success of the Hokies’ football program.
A graduate of Northside High School in Roanoke, Ridgway served internships with Greg Roberts at News/Talk 960-AM, WDBJ-TV, the ACC and ESPN Blacksburg radio before accepting an internship with ESPN in the spring of 2011.
Emery preseason All-ACC
Taylor Emery has been named a to the preseason All-ACC team, the league office announced Tuesday. The nomination comes on the heels of perhaps the best individual season a Hokie has had, which resulted in helping the team to 24 wins and a late run in March as well as breaking several team records.
Emery set the Virginia Tech program record with 667 points a season ago, averaging 18.5 points per game and 19.0 in conference play, earning second team All-ACC honors following the season.
She also scored the most field goals in a season, converting 236 while shooting 49 percent from the field. The senior guard from Tampa, Florida, also shot the long ball, knocking down 69 triples at a clip of 39 percent.
Her 2017-18 season included going over the 20-point mark 19 times and eclipsing the 30-point threshold twice.
