By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Radford University had one its most successful basketball seasons in its history this past year with wins over Texas and Notre Dame. While they fell short in the Big South Conference tournament championship, they had plenty to be proud of, winning 22 games. Now their coach has received a major pat on the back.
Mike Jones has been at the Radford helm since 2011. He is the seventh head coach in program history and has won 138 games across eight seasons, making him the third-winningest coach at the school. He and the Highlanders have won 45 games in the last two seasons alone, including the 2018 Big South Championship, a share of the 2019 Big South regular season title, the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history and the first victory over a nationally ranked opponent in program history.
For the effort, the university announced Wednesday that they had extended Jones’ contract through 2025. His current salary is $230,000 and will be increased to an annual base pay of $300,000.
Jones inherited a team with just one win in the season prior to his arrival on campus and led a multi-year turnaround with six wins in the 2011-12 season, 13 wins in the 2012-13 season and 22 wins in the 2013-14 season. He has since taken Radford to new heights and been named Big South Coach of the Year, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 3 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award, which recognizes those who experience success on the court and maintain high moral standing off of it.
Supposedly, Jones had been courted by several other schools but decided to stay in Radford. He had just signed an extension this past November, which pushed his contract through the 2021-22 season. His salary also rose back then from $205,000 to $230,000 per year.
Radford University Director of Athletics Robert Lineburg said Jones has done an exceptional job leading Radford University Men’s Basketball.
“We are pleased to sign him to a contract extension, which will add tremendous stability to our program. We have an outstanding team returning and we look forward to the program continuing to compete at a championship level. Mike’s teams continue to do great things on the court and in the classroom,” he said.
Radford University President Brian O. Hemphill was appreciative of the effort seen on the basketball court.
“The Radford family is grateful to Coach Jones for his unwavering commitment and continued service. First and foremost, Coach Jones fully invests himself in the promise, the potential and the success of former, current and future players by molding young men into strong citizen-leaders, inspiring them to achieve academic excellence and building impeccable character both on and off the court. Coach Jones and his family have been, and will continue to be, active members of our local community and strong supporters of Radford University. Marisela and I are thrilled that Mike and Sharon have chosen to remain Highlanders for years to come,” he said.
Jones was also appreciative of the confidence the two administrators have placed in him.
“I would like to thank President Hemphill and Robert Lineburg for their belief in me and for their confidence in our program,” said Jones. “I’m extremely proud of the work that we have been able to do here over the past several years. Our program is arguably in the best shape it’s ever been in and I have to thank our staff, players and managers for that. The future is very bright for Radford Men’s Basketball and we are set up for success both on, and off, the court.”
Sixteen players have been named All-Big South in his time at Radford and nine players have been tabbed VaSID All-State. Under Jones, both Javonte Green(2014-15) and Ed Polite, Jr. (2018-19) were named Big South Defensive Player of the Year while Carlik Jones earned Big South Freshman of the Year honors in 2017-18. The 2014-15 campaign also featured a huge academic honor as Kyle Noreen was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District member.
The agreement doesn’t come as surprise as Jones recently signed his son, Miles Jones of Radford High School, to a letter of intent. He also signed his son’s running mate from RHS, Quinton Morton-Robertson. Both will be freshman this coming year.
