2021 - Chris Jones, from Spencer, Iowa, will enter his 11th season coaching football at various levels. It is his fourth at Chadron State.
He will continue to work with the Eagles running backs this year as has the past three seasons at CSC and in three years at Iowa Western Community College from 2015-18.
The Eagles' running backs in Jones' tenure have increased from 4.6 yards per carry in 2018, good for second-best in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, to 5.5 yards per carry in 2020. The top two backs in the abbreviated 2020 season combined to average 6.3 yards per carry in four games.
Elijah Myles earned Second Team All-RMAC honors last year under his watch, leading the team with a 5.4 yards-per-carry average, and three backs have earned honorable mention on the list over the past two seasons.
Jones' players Kevin Coy, Jr. (2018), and Stevann Brown (2019) also earned back-to-back Academic All-America awards.
At IWCC, Jones had the privilege of coaching First Team NJCAA All-American Mekhi Sargent, who went on to lead the University of Iowa in rushing as a sophomore, in the fall of 2018. While Jones was on staff, the Reivers went 11-1 with a bowl win. In addition to running back coaching duties, he also helped with video coordination and managing equipment.
Prior to Iowa Western, Jones coached two seasons at NCAA D-1 University of Northern Iowa, where he was both an offensive assistant one season, and a defensive assistant in another. He began his career at Spencer Middle School in his hometown.
Jones played tight end at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He also participated in rugby.
