Anthony Jones (American football)

Anthony Andrew Jones (born May 16, 1960 in Baltimore, Maryland) is the head football coach at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. Jones is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the San Diego Chargers. He initially played college football at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore but transferred to Wichita State University. Jones was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1984 NFL Draft.

Playing career
Jones played college football at Wichita State University for Willie Jeffries, where he earned several honors as a tight end, including the Ben Hustle Award (1981), and All-Missouri Valley Conference (1983).

NFL Career

Following his senior season with the Shockers, Jones went on to play for the Redskins in the National Football League, where he helped the Redskins win Super Bowl XXII. The Redskins traded him to the San Diego Chargers during to the 1988 season, but Jones was forced to retire after suffering a knee injury before the next season.

Morehouse College
Jones’ first head coaching job was at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he spent four years. After serving as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in his first year with the Maroon Tigers, he was promoted to head coach in 1999. After going 2-8 in his first season, Jones led the Tigers to the first back-to-back eight-win seasons in school history. He was named SIAC Coach of the year both times. The 2000 campaign (8-3) qualified him and the Tigers as the second-most improved team in NCAA Division II.

Following his second consecutive eight-win season (8-2), Jones was one of three finalists for the 2001 Eddie Robinson Coach of the year Award along with Doug Williams (Grambling State) and Rick Comegy (Tuskegee).

Alabama A&M
Anthony Jones is entering his 11th season as the leader of the AAMU Bulldog football program. In 2006, Jones led the Bulldogs to their first SWAC title and tied the school record with nine victories. The Bulldogs posted back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2005 and 2006. The 2006 SWAC Coach of the year has led A&M to four SWAC title games in nine seasons and enters the 2011 campaign with an 82-54 career record.

With his 79-47 record while at Alabama A&M, Jones’ 79 wins at A&M rank second all-time behind legendary A&M coach Louis Crews, who won 93 games at A&M. In 2005, Jones led the Bulldogs to their second SWAC East Championship under his reign, and a 9-3 record. The nine wins also earned Jones a milestone victory in the regular season finale, a 31-16 win at Prairie View served as the 50th win in Jones’ career.

After the Bulldogs posted tremendous 8-4 records in each of his first two seasons in 2002 and 2003, the team from the Rocket City capped off another outstanding season in 2004 with a 7-4 mark. With a 21-7 victory in the Magic City Classic Jones is 7-2 in his nine seasons against in-state rival Alabama State. The 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 teams also captured the John Merritt Classic title, defeating Tennessee State in the season-opener. Alabama A&M remains the only visiting team to have beaten Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic’s history.

Three times, Jones has led A&M to six-game winning streaks in his tenure. After two early losses in 2002, Jones’ Bulldogs won six straight and eight of nine to finish the regular season. The Bulldogs captured the SWAC East (6-1). This led to A&M’s second berth in the SWAC championship in three years. In 2005, after a disappointing Homecoming loss to Texas Southern, the Bulldogs regrouped and won six straight games to finish the regular season en route to another SWAC East title and a berth in the SWAC Championship game. The 2009 season saw three two game win streaks and victories over Jackson State (13-5) and Mississippi Valley (17-12) in the final two contest of the season to earn Jones his fourth SWAC East championship and title game appearance.

Jones has led A&M to five division championships in his 11 years as head coach - the most successful run in the history of the SWAC championship game.

Accomplishments

 * Conference Coach of the Year
 * Alabama A&M (2006), Morehouse College (2000, 2001)


 * SWAC Conference Champion
 * 2006


 * SWAC East Division Titles
 * 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011


 * Super Bowl Champion
 * Washington Redskins (Super Bowl XXII)