Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
1^st Season at JCCC 

Taylor Jones enters his first season as assistant coach for the men’s basketball program at Johnson County Community College. He brings extensive experience coaching and playing the game at the collegiate level. 

Jones comes to Johnson County Jones after spending two seasons at Saint Xavier (Ill.) University from 2021-23.   While at Saint Xavier the Cougars had a combined 41-22 record. In 2022-23 Saint Xavier finished with a 24-8 record and received an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Jones coached two All-Americans in Josh Evans and Jaeden King. 

Prior to Saint Xavier, Jones served two seasons at Cloud County Community College from 2019-21. While at Cloud County Jones helped the Thunderbirds to two Region 6 Tournament appearances and coached five all-conference picks and three NCAA Division I signees.

Jones spent one season at the University of Jamestown on Danny Neville’s staff during the 2018-19 campaign helping the Jennies post a 29-6 record, capture a Great Plains Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament Championship and make an appearance in the Round of 16 in the NAIA National Basketball Championship.  He helped coach four all-conference performers including NAIA All-Americans Kevin Oberweiser and Jon Purintun. Oberweiser went on to play professionally for the Limerick Celtics of Basketball Ireland. 

Jones also had a two-year stop at Dakota College at Bottineau from 2016-18. During his two seasons there, the Lumberjacks were 38-24 overall and had three players selected to the All-Region 13 Team including Division I signee Abdul Fofana. 

Jones first coaching stint after college was at Garden City Community College for the 2015-16 season, where he served under head coach Brady Trenkle. The Broncbusters finished the year 18-14 with Josh Fleming earning all-conference recognition and five players earning scholarships on the next level. 

A native of Rochester, Ill., Jones began his collegiate playing career a Missouri State University West Plains in 2008-09. He appeared in 30 games averaging 4.9 points and helped the Grizzlies reach the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Region 16 Postseason Tournament. He was recognized as the Academic Athlete of the Year. 

Jones transferred to NCAA Division I Eastern Illinois University. In his first season, Jones played in 22 games with one start and made 12-of-13 attempts from 3-point range.  As a junior he appeared in 26 games with five starts and drained 18 shots beyond the 3-point arc. His senior season, Jones played in all 32 games making 26 starts. He averaged 5.6. points with a high of 14 points at Austin Peay and at Tennessee State. He also made 37 3-point baskets, averaged 2.5 rebounds, passed out 52 assists and shot 85.3 percent at the free throw line. During conference play, he ranked third in 3-point field goal accuracy making 45.1 percent (23-of-51). 

Jones graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and stayed at EUI to earn his master’s degree in Sport Administration in 2015 while serving as a graduate assistant when coach Chappell was an assistant coach on staff.  During the 2014-15 campaign, EIU recorded its first postseason victory in the NCAA Division I era, defeating Oakland in the opening round of the Collegeinsider.com Tournament. In his two seasons as a graduate assistant, Jones helped coach four All-Ohio Valley Conference performers including OVC Freshman of the Year Cornell Johnston.