Head Coach
 Jones with 2005 Captains, Brendan Salvatore (17) and Alex Joseph (4) |
KEVIN
JONES Head Coach Years Coaching/at SHS: 17/7 |
Head Coach Kevin Jones came to SHS in 2002. The Black Knight Football Program has seen dramatic improvement in his tenure:
- Increase in Team GPA from 1.9 (2002) to 2.8 (2005)
- Increase in individual players with a 3.0 GPA from 7 (2002) to 25 (2005).
- First winning season in 9 years and first back-to-back winning seasons in 25 years
- Back-to-Back-to-Back City Championships and 7 consecutive wins over city rivals (2003-05)
- Four consecutive wins over rival Westhill (2002-03-04-05)
- Shutout
victories over Westhill and Trinity Catholic in the same
year (2003)
- Three 1,000-yard rushers (James Cobb, 2002; Dontay Wilson, 2003; Chris Patterson, 2005)
- Consecutive FCIAC leading touchdown passes in 2003 (21) and 2004 (27)
- Consecutive Individual FCIAC leader in touchdown passes (19 - Frank Ortiz, 2003; 26 - Brendan Salvatore, 2004)
- FCIAC Record for TD receptions in a single season (17 - Kenny Fersner, 2004)
Combining the 'collegiate mentality' with accountability is the key, according to Jones. "If a young man commits to us, we will commit to him. There is no question that if a kid makes it through four years of our program, he will be ready for the next level."
Jones was quoted by the Stamford Advocate, "Recruiters tell me, 'We may not stop at every school in Connecticut, but we'll stop at Stamford High.' That makes this all worthwhile."
Prior to SHS, Jones was the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at New Canaan High School, where the Rams captured the FCIAC Championship in both 1999 and 2000, and the Class M State Championship in 2001. NCHS made the CIAC State Playoffs in each of his three years on the staff.
Coach Jones began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at Hall High School (West Hartford) in 1992. He then moved on to coach the defensive and offensive lines at Bloomfield High School, helping the Warhawks to their first State Championship game in ten years (1993 Class SS Finals).
Jones
moved on to the college ranks the following year, coaching
the defensive line, and eventually the defensive backs, at
the University of Minnesota (1994-96) as a Graduate Assistant.
Additionally, he completed an NFL Internship with the Minnesota
Vikings during their 1995 training camp.
He was then hired by Boston College, where he again coached the defensive backs (1997) and defensive line (1998).
Active in almost every facet of football, Coach Jones is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and National Strength and Conditioning Association. He also serves as an Assistant Director of the Connecticut Nike Coach of the Year Clinic.
In addition, he is a member of the Connecticut-Rhode Island All-Star Game staff, serving as the Head Coach in 2006 (a resounding 40-21 victory for team Connecticut), Defensive Coordinator in 2000 and 2003, and Defensive Line coach in 2004. He continues to serve on the Governor's Cup Commitee.
Jones
graduated from Ridgefield High School, and received his B.A.
from Central Connecticut State University. He received his
M.Ed. in Applied Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota.
He is joined at each game by his wife, Debra, and daughter,
Olivia.
The
Jones File:
2002-present: SHS - Head Coach
1999-2001: New Canaan - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
1998: Boston College - Defensive Line
1997: Boston College - Defensive Backs
1996: University of Minnesota - Defensive Backs
1994-1995: University of Minnesota - Defensive Line
1993: Bloomfield High School - Offensive Line/Defensive Line/Head Junior Varsity
1993: William Hall High School - Offensive Line/Strength Coach
High
School Coaching Highlights
City Championship:
2005
- Stamford
2004 - Stamford
2003 - Stamford
State Championship:
2001 - New Canaan
State Finals:
2000 - New Canaan
1993 - Bloomfield
State Playoffs:
1999 - New Canaan
FCIAC
Championships:
2000 - New Canaan
1999 - New Canaan
All-State
Players prior to SHS:
Bruno Dorismond (2001)
Nick Campbell (1999; 2000)
Chris Balestrino (2000)