Crayton Jones has been named assistant women’s basketball coach at East Carolina University, according to an announcement from head coach Heather Macy.
Jones arrives at ECU after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach for the men’s program at NCAA Division II member Francis Marion University.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Crayton and his family to Pirate Nation,” Macy said. “His wealth of experience on the men’s side, and his competency stood out in the interview process."
Jones has also served as a team assistant for three years with the Detroit Pistons and one year with the Miami Heat at the NBA Summer League. His duties include facilitating on-court drills and providing support to the head coaches and players during games.
“I am thankful and humbled for the opportunity that Coach Macy and East Carolina University has extended to me to join the women’s basketball staff,” Jones said. “I have had the pleasure to watch Coach Macy continue to lead and mentor young women while having continued success in the classroom and on the court. I am honored to become a part of her basketball family, be a member of the awesome staff she has in place and excited to be a part of the great things to come.”
The Patriots recorded a 73-63 overall record during his half-decade tenure as a member of the coaching staff, including an 18-10 mark during the 2009-10 campaign. Some of Jones’ responsibilities included developing recruiting strategies, overseeing individual workouts for players, assisting with academic support, coordinating summer youth basketball camps.
Jones played for Francis Marion’s men’s basketball team from 2007-09, where he started 47 games during his two seasons. As a senior, he shot 57.6 percent from the field and ranked second in assists, sixth in steals and 17th in rebounds per game in the Peach Belt Conference.
He played his first two seasons of college ball at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz., where he averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game in 2006-07. He earned first team all-conference recognition and was an all-region honorable mention.
Jones has also done significant volunteer work, including time at the Special Olympics in South Carolina, the Five-Star Basketball Camp in Virginia and the LeBron James Skill Academy in Las Vegas, Nev., while mentoring at the Billie Hardee Home for Boys. He is certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of American as a personal trainer.
A native of Las Vegas, Jones earned his associate’s degree in liberal arts at Pima Community College in 2007, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Francis Marion in 2010. He and his wife, Leeza, welcomed a baby boy in July 2013, Crayton “Cinco” Jones V.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
