RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) head men's basketball coach Brandon Chambers announced on Wednesday the hiring of John Jones, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Texas Southern University, as director of basketball operations. 
 
Jones helped the Tigers to 10 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) wins last season, marking the third-straight year of more than 10 conference wins. Throughout his tenure, Jones helped Texas Southern to 25 home wins making the H&PE Arena a tough place to play. 
 
"I am excited to welcome John Jones to our staff and to the Rio Grande Valley," Chambers said. "I had the opportunity to coach John at the University of Nevada and Texas Southern University, as well as work alongside him at Texas Southern, and his impact on winning was immediately apparent. John brings tremendous energy and passion to everything he does, which will make him an outstanding addition to our program and the Valley. John's fingerprints will be on every pillar of our program and will be an integral part to our success moving forward."
 
In 2024-25, Jones helped guide the Tigers to a top four finish in the SWAC after a 12-win conference season. He guided Kavion McClain to All-SWAC Second Team honors after he averaged 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. 
 
In his first season with the Tigers, Jones was part of the staff that helped head coach Johnny Jones, reach his 100^thcareer win at Texas Southern and 400^th career win. Jones guided the Tigers to 12 SWAC wins as they reached the SWAC Tournament finals for the 19^th time in program history and seventh in a row en route to a CollegeInsider.com Tournament appearance. 
 
Jones spent the 2022-23 season as Texas Southern's graduate assistant where he assisted the staff with practice, game preparation in addition to basketball operations before being promoted to assistant coach. 
 
"I am beyond excited and grateful to become part of the men's basketball program at UTRGV," Jones said. "I would like to thank Coach Chambers for this opportunity to be a part of something special. The energy, enthusiasm, and love the community has for UTRGV is infectious and I've felt it right away. UTRGV has the right leader for the men's basketball program. Coach Chambers and his staff is committed to building a program to bring championships home and Rally the Valley!"
 
Jones was a four-year letterwinner at Texas Southern (2018-22) where he helped the Tigers to SWAC Tournament Championships in 2021 and 2022 while also helping the program to a memorable run in the 2018 CollegeInsider.com Tournament en route to a program record 24 wins.
 
Throughout his career, Jones started 54 games and ranks as one of the top three-point shooters in program history with a total of 173 three-pointers made and ranks second in wins in program history as a player.
 
Jones also spent a season at Nevada (2017-18) where he walked on and helped the Wolf Pack to a run to the Sweet 16.
 
Jones graduated from Texas Southern in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in sports management with a minor in radio, television, and film. 

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