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Butch Jones
Sport(s)Football
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamTennessee
ConferenceSEC
Record0–0
Biographical details
Born (1968-01-17) January 17, 1968 (age 56)
Saugatuck, Michigan [1]
Playing career
1987–1989Ferris State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1990–1991
1992–1994
1995–1997
1998
1999–2001
2002–2004
2005–2006
2007–2009
2010–2012
2013–present
Rutgers (GA)
Wilkes (OC)
Ferris State (OC)
Central Michigan (TE)
Central Michigan (RB)
Central Michigan (OC)
West Virginia (WR)
Central Michigan
Cincinnati
Tennessee
Head coaching record
Overall50–27
Bowls1–2
Statistics
College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 MAC (2007, 2009)
2 Big East (2011, 2012)

Lyle Allen "Butch" Jones, Jr. (born (1968-01-17)January 17, 1968) is the current head football coach of the University of Tennessee. He previously coached at Cincinnati from 2010 to 2012 and Central Michigan University (CMU) from 2007 to 2009. A Michigan native, he played college football at Ferris State University.

Assistant coaching career[]

As a college senior, Jones interned for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then earned a job as a defensive assistant at Rutgers University right out of college in 1990. Two years later, he took a job as offensive coordinator at Wilkes University, helping to guide the team deep into the Division III playoffs. In 1995, he returned to his alma mater, Ferris State, to serve in the offensive coordinator role. His offensive acumen was clear as he led Ferris State to the top-ranked offense nationally for three straight years. He arrived at CMU in 1998, coaching tight ends for one year, running backs for two more, and finally called the plays on offense from 2002 to 2004. He left the school in 2005 to work for Rich Rodriguez and coach wide receivers at West Virginia University, helping to lead the school to back-to-back top 10 seasons.[2]

Central Michigan[]

Jones returned to Central Michigan as head coach in 2007. In his first year he posted an 8–5 overall record and a 7–1 conference record. Jones ended two streaks that had haunted his predecessors. On September 29, 2007, CMU beat Northern Illinois University, which was the first CMU victory over Northern Illinois going back to 1998. On November 6, 2007, CMU beat its chief rival, Western Michigan University, at its home field of Waldo Stadium for the first time since 1993. He guided CMU to the MAC title at Ford Field in Detroit against Miami (Ohio), and led the team to its second consecutive Motor City Bowl. He was only the ninth football coach in Mid-American Conference history to win the championship in his first season. In 2008, a 31–24 loss to Ball State on Nov. 19 derailed the Chippewas' MAC title hopes, but CMU earned a trip to a third consecutive Motor City Bowl. In 2009 he guided the Chippewas to their third MAC Championship in four years after an 8–0 MAC schedule, the first time in school history the Chippewas went undefeated in the MAC. CMU completed its run with a 20–10 win against Ohio in the MAC title game at Ford Field. He left CMU with a 27–13 overall record and 20–3 MAC record. He did not win a bowl game, though his team won the 2009 bowl game against Troy, 44–41.

Cincinnati[]

On December 16, 2009, Jones was named head coach at the University of Cincinnati.[1] He replaced Brian Kelly, who left to become head coach at Notre Dame.[3] Jones had previously replaced Kelly at Central Michigan.

Jones has led the Bearcats to records of 4–8 in 2010 and 10–3 in 2011, including a Big East championship, a Liberty Bowl victory (31–24 over Vanderbilt), and he was named Big East Coach of the Year. Also in 2011, Cincinnati was the only program to win both its conference championship as well as the league's team academic award.

He led the Bearcats to a 9–3 regular season record in 2012, leading them to the Belk Bowl in Charlotte to play against Duke University. Twenty days prior to the bowl game, on December 7, 2012, Jones announced to the team that would be resigning to accept the job as head coach at the University of Tennessee, after declining offers from Colorado, Purdue, and others. He will be required to pay $1.4 Million to buy out his contract extension, signed on January 23, 2012 that extended through the 2017 season.

Tennessee[]

On December 7, 2012, Jones was introduced as the new head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, replacing coach Derek Dooley. He is the school's 23rd head football coach.

Head coaching record[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Central Michigan Chippewas (Mid-American Conference) (2007–2009)
2007 Central Michigan 8–6 6–1 1st (West) L Motor City
2008 Central Michigan 8–5 6–2 T–2nd (West) L Motor City
2009 Central Michigan 11–2 8–0 1st (West) GMAC* 24 23
Central Michigan: 27–13 20–3 * Did not coach bowl game
Cincinnati Bearcats (Big East Conference) (2010–2012)
2010 Cincinnati 4–8 2–5 7th
2011 Cincinnati 10–3 5–2 T–1st W Liberty 21 25
2012 Cincinnati 9–3 5–2 T–1st Belk* 22
Cincinnati: 23–14 12–9 * Did not coach bowl game
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (2013–present)
2013 Tennessee 0–0 0–0 (East)
Tennessee: 0–0 0–0
Total: 50–27
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
Indicates BCS bowl, Bowl Alliance or Bowl Coalition game. #Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

Personal life[]

Jones and his wife, Barbara, have three sons—Alex, Adam, and Andrew.[1]

References[]

External links[]

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