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Memphis Tigers Football
News
January 26, 2007
Derek Jones Added to Tiger Staff
MEMPHIS, TENN. – University of Memphis head football coach Tommy West announced Friday afternoon that the Tennessee Board of Regents has approved the hiring of former Tulsa assistant coach Derek Jones to coach the Tiger cornerbacks.
Jones coached cornerbacks one season at Tulsa after serving as an assistant at Middle Tennessee and Murray State. Last season, Tulsa finished the year with an 8-5 record and lost to Utah in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. In 2006, the Hurricane defense ranked first in the league in pass defense and total defense. Tulsa’s defense also ranked second in C-USA in scoring defense, allowing its opponents just 20 points per game.
"Derek is a great hire for us," said West. "He knows the area and is energetic and has been involved in successful defenses at the schools he has worked at. We are excited to have him at the University of Memphis, and know that he will do a great job recruiting for us."
Prior to joining Tulsa’s staff last year, Jones spent the 2005 season as the cornerback coach at MTSU. The Blue Raiders' defense showed vast improvement statistically from the previous year, ranking 30th in the nation in pass defense and 34th in interceptions.
Before his one-year stint at MTSU, Jones spent five seasons (2000-04) at Murray State serving as the cornerback coach and recruiting coordinator. Jones coached seven all-conference performers in his five years.
In 2004, Jones' secondary played a major role in Murray State ranking 11th nationally in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense in Division I-AA. The Racers ranked second in pass defense in the Ohio Valley Conference and 40th nationally. A year earlier, the Murray State defensive unit ranked first in pass defense in the OVC and fourth nationally.
He entered the coaching ranks at his alma mater, Ole Miss, in 1998 as a graduate assistant for football operations and recruiting. He served as a defensive graduate assistant a year later.
As a player, Jones was the team captain for the 1995 and 1996 seasons and earned second-team all-SEC honors as a junior and senior cornerback. Following his senior season, Jones was selected to play in the 1996 Blue-Gray All-Star Classic. He was also a standout in track and field for the Rebels, earning all-SEC honors in the 4x400-meter relay and reaching the nationals in that event as well.
A native of Woodruff, South Carolina, Jones earned his bachelor's degree in public administration from Ole Miss in 1996. Following graduation, Jones played professionally for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League and the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League. An injury ended his playing career in 1998.
West also said that he will more than likely hold off on any additional staff hires until after Signing Day on Feb. 7.
"I know the question on everybody’s mind is ‘When is he going to hire a defensive coordinator?,’" said West. "I wanted to make sure I devoted my full attention to recruiting during this period and we have been very pleased with the way recruiting is going this year.
"As soon as we get past recruiting, I will spend the next couple of weeks meeting with coaches who have contacted me about the position," added West. "There are some quality coaches out there who are interested in this program, but I want to see that we get someone in here who is the right fit for our defense."
Source: Memphis Sports Information Office
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