Longtime Ute Track and Field/Cross Country Coach To Retire

Mike Jones will retire after this season, his 22nd.

Mike Jones is calling it quits after 22 years at the U.
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Jan. 31, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -
Mike Jones, head coach of the University of Utah track and field program for the past 22 years, has announced he will retire at the completion of the 2001 season. Jones, the 1981 National Coach of the Year and a four-time conference coach of the year, has headed up the Utah men's and women's cross country and track and field programs since the 1979-80 season.

"I have worked with many wonderful people throughout my career and I especially want to thank (U. athletics director) Dr. Chris Hill and the University of Utah administration for supporting me and allowing me to strive for individual excellence," said Jones upon announcing his pending retirement. "I have made many friends for life through coaching and I am thrilled about the successful careers my former athletes have undertaken after matriculating through our program. It is going to be hard for me to walk away, but it is way past time that I give back to my family what it has given to me."

In 1981, Jones' women's cross country team captured the AIAW Division II National Championship, earning him AIAW Coach of the Year honors. He led the Ute women through the transition to NCAA Division I status the next year. Jones also oversaw the reinstatement of varsity women's track and field at Utah: In 1996, varsity status was restored to women's track and field after a 10-year hiatus.

During his lengthy tenure at the U., Jones has coached 25 All-Americans and five qualifiers to the U.S. Olympic Trials. Most recently, Teren Jameson was named an All-American at the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing 38th out of 253 runners. Last spring, Chantel Goldsberry was named an All-American at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, placing 11th in the hammer.

Jones has made his mark at the conference level as well. He was conference coach of the year for women's cross country in 1981 and was the 1984, 1997 and 1998 Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for men's cross country. His 1998 men's cross country team achieved a No. 24 national ranking and placed sixth at the region championships. That year, he also received Utah's Don Reddish coach of the year award.

Prior to joining the Ute staff, Jones was a successful high school coach. In 13 years as head coach at Davis High School, his teams won seven state championships in both cross country and track and field. He also coached at Bear River, Ben Lomond and South Sevier high schools.

Jones, a native of Provo, Utah, graduated from Utah State with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1965. In 1970, he earned a master's degree in public relations from USU.