Tyler Jones has been added to the Marian University men’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach, as announced by Head Men’s Basketball Coach Drake Diener.
“I feel extremely fortunate to add Coach Jones to my staff,” said Diener. “He was my coach for three of my college years and has been a friend for the 17 years since. He has experience at every level of basketball and will be a phenomenal resource for everyone in our program. Coach Jones is a great addition to the Marian community.”
Jones comes to Marian after spending five seasons at NACC rival Aurora. The Spartans would have three winning seasons during his tenure including a 2019 NACC Tournament Championship. He also stepped in to serve as the interim head coach for the program late in 2022 season. Outside of his basketball responsibilities, Jones spent time with the men’s and women’s golf programs at Aurora and played a role in community affairs.
“I’d like to thank Director of Athletics Tony Draves and Head Coach Drake Diener for this tremendous opportunity,” said Jones. “Marian men’s basketball has become a top-tier program in the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference and has displayed toughness and grit reflective of Coach Diener. My goal is to supplement the existing strength of the program and help develop the team to win championships and graduate its student-athletes at the highest level. I am excited for the challenge.””
Jones brings a wealth of basketball coaching knowledge to the Sabre coaching staff ranging across all levels of basketball. He broke onto the coaching scene during the 1998-99 season when he led the Connecticut Pride of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) to a league championship. Jones served as a head coach and the general manager during his time with the Pride accumulating over 100 wins in his career. He also earned CBA Coach of the Year honors following the 1998-99 championship.
Jones has coached several former NBA players including former head coach for the University of Connecticut men’s program Kevin Ollie, current New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson (father of Jalen Brunson), and current head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks Adrian Griffin (father of AJ Griffin).
He then moved to the college ranks serving as an assistant coach at DePaul University from 2002-05. The Blue Demons won 58 games in three seasons qualifying for the National Invitation Tournament twice and NCAA Tournament once. DePaul qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the 2003-04 season as an at-large bid after posting a 22-10 record. The Blue Demons defeated Dayton in the opening round before falling to the eventual National Championship winner, the University of Connecticut.
Staying in the area, Jones became the head coach of Concordia University Chicago and was on staff from 2008-2015, the second-longest tenure in program history. In his time as a Cougar, Jones led CUC to a Concordia Invitational Tournament Championship in 2011 and a NACC South Division Championship in the 2011-12 season.
He will also serve as the head coach for the Marian University men’s golf program.
Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies from Trinity and a master’s in business administration from Concordia Chicago.
