After over a decade of leading the Howard Payne athletic department, Mike Jones will be retiring at the end of the fall semester to spend more time with his family.
“Howard Payne University is very grateful for the service Mike Jones has given to Howard Payne athletics over the past 12 years. His leadership will be missed,” said HPU president Dr. Bill Ellis. “We wish him the best in his retirement as he gets the opportunity to spend more time with his family.”
During his 12 year tenure as director of athletics, HPU sports teams reached the ASC Conference Tournament 36 times and won five West Division Titles, five ASC Conference Titles and one NCAA National Championship (WBSK-2008). Jones helped lead efforts to add men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s golf as conference sports and the completion of the new Citizens National Bank Soccer Field.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that has been entrusted to me over the last 12 years and I have made many lifelong friends that I will certainly miss seeing on a daily basis. I look forward to spending more time with my wife and our eight grandchildren.”
Jones helped lead facility improvement efforts at the Brownwood Coliseum, Don Shepard Baseball Park, the HPU softball facility, the HPU soccer fieldhouse, the McCullough Athletic Center weight room and the HPU football dressing room.
In addition to facility improvements, athletic numbers grew from 180 in the spring of 2005 to an all-time high of 390 in the fall of 2015 during his time at HPU. Jones also established a Student Athlete Handbook, a Staff Handbook and instituted mandatory drug testing during his tenure.
Jones has seen improvements in academic achievement with the number of student-athletes being recognized on National Student Athlete Day. The number recognized grew from 16 in the spring of 2005 to an average of 100 each year. He credits his coaching staff’s recruiting efforts, monitoring and accountability for these improvements.
Jones was instrumental in getting two contracts signed with Adidas for apparel and footwear, resulting in a consistent look for all athletic teams. Howard Payne is the only Division III university to have such a contract with Adidas.
Jones was no stranger to the Howard Payne family when taking over as director of athletics position 12 years ago. He had previously served as the Lady Jacket women’s basketball coach for three seasons in the late 1990s.
Jones spent 42 years in education, with 27 years in public education as a teacher, coach, and administrator and 15 years in higher education. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and a Master of Education Degree, both from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Jones is married to his wife of 44 years, Jayne Jones, a retired public school teacher. They have three married children and eight grandchildren.
