High school: Longtime football coach headed to Hall

Thirty-five years and 200 victories marked the career of Bill Jones, who will be inducted into this year’s Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in July, 2013.
Jones, who most recently coached at Genoa from 2004-06, had stints at Lorain County’s two largest schools — Elyria (1984-1987) and Lorain Admiral King (2000-2003).
“You know the old saying,” Jones said from his Port Clinton home, “football coaches haven’t had to go to work a single day of their life. I’d still be coaching if I had my health.”
His fondest coaching memory came at the North-South All-Star game in 1977. His North squad won, 13-12.
“I got to coach a game at Ohio Stadium,” Jones said. “I remember when we had practice, (legendary OSU coach) Woody Hayes would stand right to me on the sidelines and watch the practice. It was pretty intimidating, but he didn’t say anything. It was a great experience for me.”
Jones, who has had both knees replaced, is suffering from prostate cancer but says, “I’m doing alright. I’m fighting it off.”
His best years were at Findlay and Rocky River. At Findlay, he started as an offensive coordinator in 1970 before taking the helm for 10 years starting in 1973. He won 68 games and lost 33 as coach of the Trojans — taking Findlay to the playoffs in 1975. The Trojans were 10-0 during the regular season, losing to state champion Cincinnati Moeller in the playoffs.
“I’d say we still consider Findlay our home,” Jones said. “We have a lot of friends there and still keep in touch.”
Jones was Buckeye Conference Coach of the Year in 1973, ’74 and ’75.
At Rocky River, Jones had a 61-39 record from 1988-97. He started his coaching career at Miami East in 1967 and also coached at Zanesville and Fairview. He was the Southwestern Conference co-Coach of the Year three times.
Jones had a penchant for taking over programs that had undergone some tough years. Findlay had won just three games the year before he took over as offensive coordinator and Rocky River was 3-7 in his first season, but he quickly turned the Pirates into a winner. They were 9-1 in 1990 and 8-2 in ’91.
At Fairview, the Warriors hadn’t won a game the year before he arrived but were 6-4 in his second season.
“I enjoyed the challenge of turning things around,” he said. “This honor is a good way to end my career. Like I said, I wish I could still coach. I always enjoyed working with kids.”
Jones has been on the board of directors for the Northwest Ohio Coaches Association and the Ohio Football Coaches association. He started the youth football program in Findlay and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His record shows 200 wins, 151 losses.
He’ll be inducted along with Tony Napolet (Niles McKinley and Warren JFK), Gary Quisno (Oak Harbor, Sandusky Perkins, Pontiac Central and Danbury), Jack Rose (GlenOak, Massillon Washington, St. Thomas Aquinas), Vince Suriano (Cadiz and Anderson) and Lowell Klinefelter (Canton Central Catholic).
Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.