Carson-Newman to host "Chris Jones Night on Saturday
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - One of Carson-Newman basketball’s all-time greats returns to Mossy Creek this weekend. Carson-Newman’s first athletic All-American and former head men’s basketball coach Chris Jones will be honored on “Chris Jones Night” this Saturday as the Eagles play host to Lenoir-Rhyne University. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - One of Carson-Newman basketball's all-time greats returns to Mossy Creek this weekend.
Carson-Newman's first athletic All-American and former head men's basketball coach Chris Jones will be honored on "Chris Jones Night" this Saturday as the Eagles play host to Lenoir-Rhyne University. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse.
"Saturday night really means a lot," Jones said of his return to C-N. "I've changed a lot since leaving. I had the blinders on when I was at Carson-Newman, I was all about winning a national championship. I didn't have God first. Since my time (at C-N), I've gone from working with 15-20 young men each week to trying to minister to 300-400 through prison ministries and outreach programs."
Jones was an All-American for the Eagles in 1962 and led Carson-Newman to its first two NAIA National Tournament appearances. He led the Eagles to a 54-11 record in his final two seasons at C-N, and led the Volunteer State Athletic Conference and the NAIA District 24 in scoring in each of his last three years.
Jones returned to Carson-Newman as the head basketball coach in 1981 and quickly put the Eagles back on the national map. He guided the Eagles to a 171-74 record over seven seasons. In his first season at Carson-Newman, he turned an Eagle program that was 5-23 the season prior into a 24-13 team and an NAIA National Tournament appearance.
In his second season, Jones and the Eagles turned in one of the most memorable seasons in school history. C-N would capture a berth in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City and make a run to the nation quarterfinals, but the win over Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) in the NAIA District Championship to go to Kansas City is one of Jones' fondest memories during as the Eagles' head coach.
"The win over Trevecca in 1983 was a big moment," Jones said. "It was spring break and there was not any students around, so I went to the high school and got on the loudspeaker and brought over their students, their cheerleaders. We had the game in hand late, and with about four minutes left to play, Kansas City Lights started playing on the loudspeaker during the game."
The Newport, Tenn. native, a hometown which he shares with first-year Eagle head coach Chuck Benson, was impacting the distant future of Carson-Newman basketball with his wild style, on the court and on the sidelines, whether he knew it or not.
"Chris Jones left a big impression on me growing up," Benson said. "I can remember coming to a packed Holt Fieldhouse in the 1980's when he was the coach and falling in love with the atmosphere. Next thing you know, I'm at all of his basketball camps, then a student at Carson-Newman, and the rest, I guess, is history."
In all, Jones led the Eagles to five VSAC titles and averaged 27 wins per year in his seven seasons. His resume' as a player is even more impressive. He is a member of the C-N Hall of Fame and the C-N Team of the Century.
Jones earned the same honors at the NAIA level, joining the likes of Scottie Pippen on the NAIA All- Century Team and the NAIA Hall of Fame. He was drafted in the 1960's by the eight-team American Basketball Association's Cincinnati Royals, a team which included Oscar Robertson.
Despite all his national accolades and recognition, Jones will always remember his east Tennessee roots and Carson-Newman's tradition.
"(Frosty Holt) was also from Newport, and he got it all started," Jones said. "Dick Campbell and Gene Mehaffey kept it going. I just tried to continue it. At Carson-Newman it was all about the students, the fans, the College, and the community. There was always a strong sense of camaraderie."
