Hampton University Athletics

Marcus Jones is in his second season with the Hampton University track & field and cross country programs, and his first season as a full-time assistant coach after serving as a volunteer assistant in 2014-15. Jones is primarily responsible for recruiting and coaching the program’s mid-distance and cross country runners.
 
In 2014-15, Jones’ first year with Hampton, Ce’aira Brown was named All-MEAC in cross country before also earning First Team All-MEAC honors in the indoor 800-meter run, mile run, and 4x400-meter relay, as well as the outdoor 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run, and 4x400-meter relay.
 
In addition, Brown was the Most Outstanding Runner of the MEAC Outdoor Championships and a Second Team All-American in the indoor 800-meter run.
 
Brown broke six school records in 2014-15.
 
On the men’s side, Jones coached Edose Ibadin to Second Team All-America honors in the indoor 800-meter run and Chidi Okezie to Second Team All-America honors in the outdoor 400-meter dash.
 
Ibadin also set a new school record in the indoor 800-meter run.
 
Jones’ previous coaching experience includes an eight-year stint at Cal State-Sacramento, where he was recruiting coordinator and assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. He worked primarily with the sprinters, hurdlers and multi-event athletes
 
He was also operations coordinator for all home meets, and during his tenure – from 1993-2000 – Jones coached 70 Al-Academic and All-Conference performers.
 
Jones was also in charge of Big Sky championship events in track and cross country.
 
While Cal State-Sacramento was in the America West, Jones coaches 17 women and 10 men to all-conference performances – as well as 15 All-Academic honorees. When the school moved to the Big Sky in 1997, the success only grew.
 
From 1997 to 2000, Jones oversaw four All-Americans, 16 Big Sky indoor and outdoor champions, 30 All-Conference, and 61 All-Academic honorees.
 
Prior to his stint in Sacramento, Jones spent two seasons as assistant track & field and cross country coach at Scottsdale Community College, where he also served as recruiting coordinator. In addition to working with sprinters, hurdlers, and multi-event athletes, Jones coordinated housing and academic schedules for his student-athletes.
 
Jones coached five Junior College All-Americans in 1992, and during his tenure, 15 school records fell and the team was ranked in the top 10 in JCNCAA in 1992 and 1993.
 
His first coaching job came at Cortez High School, where from 1986-91, Jones was an assistant track & field coach focusing on distance runners. He coached 35 regional champions and 12 state champions during his tenure, and he also saw seven school records call.
 
One athlete was named All-American.
 
Jones has also been heavily involved in youth track; from 1987-1992, he was the director of the Jesse Owen Track Club and the Arizona Track All-Stars. His athletes held almost every record from the Bantam 9-and-Under all the way to Young Men and Women Ages 17-18.
 
On top of breaking numerous records and having nationally-ranked athletes, Jones was instrumental in helping student-athletes get to college – at the Div. I, II, and III level – and many of them earned scholarships.
 
Among the athletes Jones coached who went on to successful collegiate track careers: Eureka Hall (LSU), Dwight Johnson (Arizona State), Colin Fuel (Auburn), Doug Reynolds (Arizona), George page (Missouri), Nathan Nutter (Stanford), and Jennie McDowell (BYU).
 
Jones is a 1988 graduate of Arizona State, where he received his degree in Communications.
 
Prior to that, Jones earned an associate’s degree in general studies from Phoenix College.