Bob Jones (basketball, born 1940)
Robert Earl Jones (February 20, 1940 – May 14, 2021) was an American college basketball coach who was a men's head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College. He played basketball at Georgetown College in Kentucky. He worked two years as assistant coach at Georgetown College before becoming assistant-coach with the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers in 1967. In 1972, he was promoted to head coach, after the resignation of Bob Daniels. Jones was also named the school's athletic director, succeeding William Douglas, who had resigned earlier in the year.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 20, 1940 Bellevue, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2021 (aged 81) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1959–1962 | Georgetown (KY) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1965–1967 | Georgetown (KY) (assistant) |
| 1967–1972 | Kentucky Wesleyan (assistant) |
| 1972–1980 | Kentucky Wesleyan |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1972–1980 | Kentucky Wesleyan |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| NCAA Division II Tournament (1973) | |
| Awards | |
| NABC Division II Coach of the Year (1973) | |
Jones was fired as head coach in December 1979, but agreed to finish the season. On February 25, 1980, he coached his last game at Kentucky Wesleyan. He was hampered in his career by ailment and accusations of unenthusiastic recruiting. Jones resigned as athletic director in July.
Jones brought The Panthers to the 1973 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship.
Jones died in Cincinnati on May 14, 2021, at age 81.