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Jeff Jones ‘ American team will practice in U-Hall on Friday.
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Weird isn’t the word that American University Head Basketball Coach Jeff Jones would use to explain bringing his team to Charlottesville to play against the Cavaliers – where he formerly stood at the helm.
“Weird isn’t the right word, but it’s close,” Jones said. “I have a lot of mixed emotions, but I’ll treat it like any other game as much as I can.”
American University’s schedule pits them against UVa tonight at 7:30 p.m. Conveniently, the Eagles then play Longwood College a few days after their bout with Virginia, so Jones will get to practice in his old digs.
“Playing Longwood next is just something that kind of happened,” Jones said. “The dates worked, and it did work out that we’ll practice in U-Hall on the 29th.”
Plus, he gets to coach in UVa’s new John Paul Jones Arena – something that was just a pipe dream during his days at Virginia as a player and coach.
“It was talked about, but never seemed like a real possibility,” Jones said. “When I was [at UVa], the biggest possibility was rebuilding U-Hall. It’s something that should’ve been done a long time ago. The basketball team under Terry Holland led the way for all the programs to be successful. It’s a good thing for the University community, and it’s a long time coming.”
Jones may have left Charlottesville behind, but he took a bit of Virginia with him. Several bits of UVa to be precise. He has several former UVA players and a former manager with him on his coaching staff at American University.
“The first staff that I put together when I first got here included Pete McLaughlin [who played at Virginia from 1995-1998],” Jones explained. “He was a walk-on at UVa, and he started a few games his fourth year. Pete told the AU players that he feels like I’ve mellowed a bit since my days at UVa. The players wonder ‘What was he like then if he’s mellowed now?’”
Greg Lyons – a 2001 UVa grad – is another former player that now coaches under Jones, as is former player Jason Williford – who played at Virginia from 1991-1995.
“Jason had a great career in Korea, and when he finished his playing days overseas, he came on board here,” Jones said.
Former Cavalier basketball manager Kieran Donohue (CLAS ’97) stayed on with the Cavs after graduation on a volunteer basis to do what needed to be done to be a part of the team. Jones and Donohue kept in touch.
“Coach Jones and I stayed in close contact since our time working together. After he left UVa, we’d get together sometimes and have drinks and talk basketball. I had worked for him in college, yes, but I considered him a friend,” Donohue said.
“I wanted to get guys on the staff that knew what they were doing,” Jones said. “I think it’s safe to say that there’s a comfort level for me with each of these guys. They know the game and have the same values. They’re bright and work extremely hard. I’m sure I’m still demanding and detail oriented, but it’s not the same kind of relationship as when they were players. I give them a lot of responsibility.”
| “I was very fortunate to continue to work for him. It’s not a whole lot different from working with him at UVa. He’s very knowledgeable, he knows the X’s and O’s of basketball, but he’s intelligent about other things. He’s intense at practices and games, but has a good pulse for his team. He’s not a micro-manager, but rather puts trust in us,” Donohue continued. “He lets you develop as a coach, even if it is ultimately his program. He’s a great head coach to work for.” ~ American assistant coach Kieran Donohue |
“I was very fortunate to continue to work for him,” Donohue said. “It’s not a whole lot different from working with him at UVa. He’s very knowledgeable, he knows the X’s and O’s of basketball, but he’s intelligent about other things. He’s intense at practices and games, but has a good pulse for his team.
“He’s not a micro-manager, but rather puts trust in us,” Donohue continued. “He lets you develop as a coach, even if it is ultimately his program. He’s a great head coach to work for.”
Donohue had always wanted to be involved in coaching in one way or another. He had been a successful high school player, but he knew that part of his life would be over after he graduated.
“I went to UVa just to be a student,” Donohue said. “There was always this dream or wish to coach basketball. Maybe I could study to be a teacher and a high school coach.”
For Donohue, that dream became his life’s work. It was all about networking. His father was a basketball referee and knew one of the former coaches at UVa – Dennis Wolf.
Donohue served under Jones throughout his time at Virginia and for a year after he graduated. He then headed to Boston University when Coach Wolf became head coach there, serving as an administrative assistant for a few years.
“He asked me to go to lunch and if I wanted to work with the team,” Donohue said. “I told him ‘Heck yeah!’ There’s nothing more exciting in college sports than ACC basketball.”
Jones’s children live in Charlottesville, so he comes back often.
“I have my children there and good friends that live there, so I come back a lot,” Jones said.
For Donohue, it’s a different story.
“I haven’t been back to Charlottesville much, but it’s exciting to go back,” Donohue said. “In some sense, it’s just another game – we know we have to bring our ‘A’ game. But in another sense, it’s not just another game. That’s home from a basketball standpoint. I root for UVa – when they’re playing someone other than us.
“It is exciting because of the new arena,” Donohue continued. “It was something that had always been talked about when I was there,” Donohue said. “But we spent a lot of hours in U-Hall, it’ll be fun to be back in that gym.”
