Administrative licenses from AU help Jeff Jones land director of player development job with University of South Florida's football program

Jeff Jones liked that a big emphasis with Ashland University’s administrative and superintendent licensure programs was learning to work with others.

That will come in handy in his new job as the director of player development for the University of South Florida’s football program.

According to a news release from USF, Jones will oversee the football players’ development and growth in community and campus engagement, leadership development and off-the-field skill sets necessary for success in life after the players leave USF.

“I am grateful to Ashland University for the opportunity to learn and grow as a professional and a person,” said Jones, who earned his administrative license from AU in 2006 and his superintendent one in 2013. “I know that many of the things I learned in my time at AU are making an impact on my work now, and have helped many students prior to that gain access to learning in a way meaningful to them.

“I could not be more pleased with my choice to attend Ashland, as it has certainly made an impact on my career path,” added Jones, a longtime high school administrator, teacher and football coach in Ohio.

One of those coaching jobs as offensive coordinator at Dublin Scioto High School in the early 2000s helped him get his new job. That’s when he coached Alex Golesh, who was recently named the USF head football coach.

“I am honored and excited that Coach Jones is joining us at USF and employing his tremendous experience in education and coaching to the overall development of our Bulls players,” Golesh said in the USF release. “I played for him and experienced first-hand his outstanding ability as a mentor and teacher of student-athletes, and I am so excited our players will also have the opportunity to benefit from his leadership and wisdom.”

Jones brings a lengthy resume of experience in education to USF, according to the release, which listed some of his highlights over the course of a 29-year career in education in Ohio, including: principal at four high schools, science and biology teacher at seven schools and 15 seasons coaching football at four schools.

The networking piece of AU’s administrative and superintendent licensure programs helped him understand that he doesn’t have to do things alone – that working with others who help share experiences and knowledge can problem-solve in a student-centered manner, Jones said.

“I carry that knowledge with me into my new work, as it is going to be important with the transition to the university level in the athletic realm,” he said. “I’m always grateful to AU and the doors it opened for me, and continues to open.”