Damon Jones enters his second season as the full-time assistant coach for Men's Basketball in the 2023-24 academic year.
Jones helped to steer the Blue Streaks to an OAC Regular Season Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance during his first campaign in 2022-23. The Blue Streaks tabbed four All-OAC selections.
Jones knows Northeast Ohio well. Hailing from Warrensville, Jones played for St. Peter Chanel, graduating in 2012 before the school closed one year later.
After playing for the Firebirds, Jones started his collegiate career at NJCAA Mercyhurst North East, scoring over 1,000 points and earning junior college All-American status. Jones remained in Erie, playing his final two seasons at NCAA Division II Mercyhurst University. He steered the Lakers to the program's first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship along with two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Jones surpassed 1,000 points at Mercyhurst, leading the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game as a senior and earning 2016 All-PSAC Second Team honors.
Jones then headed overseas, playing professionally for three and a half years in Denmark, Spain and Ireland. Jones starred in the Irish Superleague, where he led the league in scoring, averaging 30.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Jones started his coaching career at Hope College in Holland, Michigan at the Division III level. He served as a varsity assistant and head JV coach for the 2018-19 season.
During the 2019-20 season, Jones worked in the NBA G League in player development and basketball operations for the Grand Rapids Drive. Previously, he was a basketball operations intern for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA.
Amidst the pandemic, Jones coached at Grand Rapids Christian High School in Michigan, where he mentored McDonald's All-American Kobe Bufkin. Then, Jones joined the coaching staff at Western Missouri State University (NCAA Division II) in July 2021. The Griffons tallied 14 wins during the 2021-22 campaign.
