Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- byjones@csufresno.edu
- Phone:
- 559-278-2748
Byron Jones was named Fresno State's interim head men's basketball coach on March 13, 2018. He spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator on the Fresno State men's basketball staff, primarily responsible for in-game coaching, mentoring, recruiting, scheduling, scouting, and skill development.
Jones has helped lead Fresno State to postseason appearances in three of the last five seasons, including a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 and a NIT appearance in 2017, and at least 20 wins in each of the last three seasons.
During the 2015-16 season, Jones coached the Bulldogs to the 2016 Mountain West Championship title and a 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance.  With a 13-5 record in league play, the 'Dogs finished second in conference, which gave the Bulldogs their highest seed for a conference tournament since 2001 and guided the program back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.  Fresno State won 25 games, which is the third most wins in a single season in school history, including wins in nine of its last 10 games and 11 of its last 12.
With Jones on the staff, Fresno State has won 20 or more games in four of the past five seasons and the Bulldogs have increased their conference win total in four of the past six seasons.
Under Jones’ tutelage at Fresno State, seven Bulldogs have earned all-conference honors, including 2015-16 MW Preseason and Postseason Player of the Year Marvelle Harris, Tyler Johnson (Miami Heat), Jaron Hopkins, Deshon Taylor, Kevin Olekaibe, Cullen Russo and Bryson Williams.  Harris was also named a 2016 Associated Press All-American and finished his career as Fresno State's all-time leading scorer (2,031 career points).
Fresno State also finished the 2015-16 season in the Top 5 nationally in turnover margin and went 6-0 in games decided by a single possession.
During 2013-14 season, Fresno State won 21 games, including wins in 13 of its last 18 games, and finished in the postseason as the 2014 College Basketball Invitational Runner-Up. With Jones’ coaching, Fresno State forward Paul Watson was named the 2014 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American.
Jones came to the San Joaquin Valley via Winston-Salem State University where he was an assistant coach for the 2010-11 season. He helped lead the Rams to a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division Title and a berth in the 2011 NCAA Division II Tournament. The Rams also went undefeated in their non-conference schedule en route to a 19 win season, the most in its previous six seasons.
Prior to joining the Winston-Salem State coaching staff, Jones spent four years as the Director of Basketball Operations at Premiere Basketball, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, and head boys basketball coach at Saint Mary's High School in Independence, Mo.  While leading the Saint Mary's High School program, the team earned its best finish in 10 years, and with K.C. Premiere Basketball, he sent over 50 athletes to play collegiate basketball.
He also coached at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington where he helped guide the Seahawks to an 83-40 record over a four-year period.  During his time with the program, UNCW won a pair of Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) titles and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2003 and 2006).  During this time, he coached four Seahawks to all-conference honors, including 2002-03 CAA Preseason and Postseason Player of the Year Brett Blizzard, Craig Callahan, John Goldsberry and T.J. Carter.Â
In addition to WSSU and UNCW, Jones' collegiate coaching career has also included stints at the University of Denver, Eastern Kentucky and Central Oklahoma.
Jones enjoyed a stellar career at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A four-year letter winner, Jones was named the Oklahoma City Player of the Year and earned first team All-State honors following his senior season. During his high school career, Jones was named to the Oklahoma Rams Junior Olympics national championship team, alongside future NBA players Richard Dumas, Byron Houston and Brent Price.
Jones received two degrees from Central Oklahoma - a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports and Recreation Management in 1993 along with a master's degree in Physical Education in 1995.
An Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native, and born on Nov. 9, 1968, Jones has three children - Antigone, Tannah and Bryton.
