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LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's head basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Monday the hiring of Chris Jones as an assistant for the Aggies. Jones replaces Don Verlin who was recently named the head coach at the University of Idaho.
Jones spent a total of seven years at the University of Utah in a number of roles, including most recently as an assistant coach for two seasons under Ray Giacoletti and current Utes head coach Jim Boylen. Jones also served as the director of basketball operations at Utah for two seasons.
"This move will help Chris toward his career goal of becoming a head coach," Utah head coach Jim Boylen said. "We're losing a quality person and a solid coach. We wish him the best of luck in the future."
"The basketball program at Utah is in terrific hands with Coach Boylen," Jones said. "He's as good a coach as I've ever been around. This is an opportunity for me and my family to pursue the goal of becoming a head coach."
"I am very excited that Chris Jones is joining our coaching staff," said Morrill. "We are getting a quality coach who has lots of experience with basketball in the state of Utah. Chris is a high-energy, get-it-done kind of guy. He understands the demands of this business and has the drive and skill, plus the experience necessary to perform all the tasks required of an assistant coach at the Division I level. I know he will be a huge assist for our program."
Jones began his coaching career as Utah's video coordinator from 1994-97 as he worked with All-Americans Keith Van Horn, Andre Miller and Michael Doleac. He then coached the Wurthing Bears in London, England from 1998-99 and later was an assistant at Westminster College in Salt Lake City from 2003-04 as he helped the Griffin's advance to the NAIA National Tournament, earn a national ranking of 21st in the country and win the Frontier Conference championship.
"I've always been intrigued and inspired by what Coach Morrill has done at Utah State," said Jones. "This is a great opportunity for me to continue to learn the game and be a part of his great system. Utah State's program speaks for itself with all the success it has had and this is a great opportunity for me and my family to continue my coaching career."
Jones played college basketball at the University of Utah for two seasons (1993-94) and was part of the 1993 team that won the Western Athletic Conference regular season championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He graduated from Utah in 1994 with a degree in sociology.
Jones was born on Dec. 30, 1971 in Salt Lake City and graduated from Judge Memorial High School in 1990. He and his wife, Emily, have a son, Rylan (8) and a daughter, Rendi (5).
Morrill also announced that assistant coach Tim Duryea, who has spent the last seven seasons at Utah State, is being elevated to associate coach.
"Tim is extremely valuable to our operation and has certainly earned this promotion," explained Morrill. "His loyalty to Utah State and to me is never taken for granted."
