Texas Tech University Athletics
Brandon Jones Returns to His Alma Mater
October 21, 2017 | Football
Offensive line coach Brandon Jones returns to Texas Tech.
As fans begin to pour into Jones AT&T Stadium this morning, some will be returning for the first time in just a few weeks.
Others will be returning for the first time in years. They'll see the new additions to campus. They'll notice several changes to the stadium. And then they'll finish by watching the Red Raiders host Iowa State for Homecoming.
Brandon Jones was in the latter group just a few weeks ago. The Texas Tech offensive line coach returned to his alma mater at the beginning of this season and will be experiencing his first Homecoming game as a Red Raider assistant.
"It's exciting," Jones said of his return to Lubbock. "I am obviously very fortunate to be back here. I know how important Homecomings are around here. My family and I are really thrilled to be back."
Jones' return to the South Plains brings his career full circle.
The former Red Raider center began his coaching career as an offensive assistant on Mike Leach's staff from 2007-08, the final year of which still remains one of the best seasons in school history as Tech rose to No. 2 in the national rankings.
The success of the 2008 season helped Jones land his first full-time position at Sam Houston State where he coached the running backs and tight ends for one year.
From there, he was able to rejoin several former Tech staffers as part of Ruffin McNeil's staff at East Carolina in 2010, beginning a successful five-year tenure as the Pirates' offensive line coach. East Carolina transformed into one of the nation's top offenses during that time, which featured four bowl appearances.
Jones got another call in 2015 to join the staff at Cal for two seasons under another former Tech assistant coach in Sonny Dykes. He spent two seasons in Berkeley as Cal's run game coordinator and offensive line coach, mentoring a unit that ranked 22nd nationally in sacks allowed at the end of the 2016 campaign.
Not long after the season, though, Jones and the rest of the Cal staff were looking for new jobs. He waited a few weeks until he received a phone call from a familiar voice, Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
"Coach Jones was a great player here and then turned into one of the best offensive line coaches in the country," Kingsbury said. "We were fortunate to bring his experience on our staff, and he's worked well with a young group this season."
Jones was a true freshmen when Kingsbury was the senior quarterback for the Red Raiders in 2002. He went on to start 22 games at center throughout the next four seasons, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades as a junior before being named a Rimington Award (nation's top center) candidate during his senior year.
To Jones, the call to return to Lubbock was a dream. It's not only where he spent his entire playing career but it's where he met his wife, the former Latoya Daniels, who was heavily involved in President's Select during her time as a student.
"I always tell people and I really do mean this but Tech has been my dream job just because I played here," Jones said. "Once (Coach Kingsbury) reached out to me, it was kind of surreal. I was kind of overjoyed. I've always wanted to coach here and give back to the place that made me who I am."
Jones' first task at Tech was to quickly mentor a young offensive line that has yet to start a senior so far this season. Through six games, Jones has primarily used a pair of sophomores in Travis Bruffy and Terence Steele at the tackle spots as well as another sophomore in Madison Akamnonu and a true freshman in Jack Anderson at both guard positions.
His veteran up front has come in the form of junior Paul Stawarz, who had appeared in eight games as a Red Raider coming into this season.
The Red Raiders have flourished, though, as Tech once again ranks among the national leaders in scoring offense (4th), passing offense (4th) and total offense (7th) heading into today's tilt with Iowa State. The running game has seen an upswing, too, as Tech is averaging roughly 60 yards more per game on the ground than a year ago.
Like Kingsbury, Jones knows what it means to be a Red Raider. He's walked in the same shoes as the players he now coaches.
He knows and appreciates what winning at Tech means not only to the school but the community that supports the program game-in and game-out.
"I told them at Cal, it was more professional. At East Carolina, it was professional," Jones said. "This place is personal simply because I wouldn't be where I am today without some of the experiences I had here and some of the people I met here. They know I give it my all every day, and I expect them to do the same."
It's quite the homecoming.
Others will be returning for the first time in years. They'll see the new additions to campus. They'll notice several changes to the stadium. And then they'll finish by watching the Red Raiders host Iowa State for Homecoming.
Brandon Jones was in the latter group just a few weeks ago. The Texas Tech offensive line coach returned to his alma mater at the beginning of this season and will be experiencing his first Homecoming game as a Red Raider assistant.
"It's exciting," Jones said of his return to Lubbock. "I am obviously very fortunate to be back here. I know how important Homecomings are around here. My family and I are really thrilled to be back."
Jones' return to the South Plains brings his career full circle.
The former Red Raider center began his coaching career as an offensive assistant on Mike Leach's staff from 2007-08, the final year of which still remains one of the best seasons in school history as Tech rose to No. 2 in the national rankings.
The success of the 2008 season helped Jones land his first full-time position at Sam Houston State where he coached the running backs and tight ends for one year.
From there, he was able to rejoin several former Tech staffers as part of Ruffin McNeil's staff at East Carolina in 2010, beginning a successful five-year tenure as the Pirates' offensive line coach. East Carolina transformed into one of the nation's top offenses during that time, which featured four bowl appearances.
Jones got another call in 2015 to join the staff at Cal for two seasons under another former Tech assistant coach in Sonny Dykes. He spent two seasons in Berkeley as Cal's run game coordinator and offensive line coach, mentoring a unit that ranked 22nd nationally in sacks allowed at the end of the 2016 campaign.
Not long after the season, though, Jones and the rest of the Cal staff were looking for new jobs. He waited a few weeks until he received a phone call from a familiar voice, Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
"Coach Jones was a great player here and then turned into one of the best offensive line coaches in the country," Kingsbury said. "We were fortunate to bring his experience on our staff, and he's worked well with a young group this season."
Jones was a true freshmen when Kingsbury was the senior quarterback for the Red Raiders in 2002. He went on to start 22 games at center throughout the next four seasons, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades as a junior before being named a Rimington Award (nation's top center) candidate during his senior year.
To Jones, the call to return to Lubbock was a dream. It's not only where he spent his entire playing career but it's where he met his wife, the former Latoya Daniels, who was heavily involved in President's Select during her time as a student.
"I always tell people and I really do mean this but Tech has been my dream job just because I played here," Jones said. "Once (Coach Kingsbury) reached out to me, it was kind of surreal. I was kind of overjoyed. I've always wanted to coach here and give back to the place that made me who I am."
Jones' first task at Tech was to quickly mentor a young offensive line that has yet to start a senior so far this season. Through six games, Jones has primarily used a pair of sophomores in Travis Bruffy and Terence Steele at the tackle spots as well as another sophomore in Madison Akamnonu and a true freshman in Jack Anderson at both guard positions.
His veteran up front has come in the form of junior Paul Stawarz, who had appeared in eight games as a Red Raider coming into this season.
The Red Raiders have flourished, though, as Tech once again ranks among the national leaders in scoring offense (4th), passing offense (4th) and total offense (7th) heading into today's tilt with Iowa State. The running game has seen an upswing, too, as Tech is averaging roughly 60 yards more per game on the ground than a year ago.
Like Kingsbury, Jones knows what it means to be a Red Raider. He's walked in the same shoes as the players he now coaches.
He knows and appreciates what winning at Tech means not only to the school but the community that supports the program game-in and game-out.
"I told them at Cal, it was more professional. At East Carolina, it was professional," Jones said. "This place is personal simply because I wouldn't be where I am today without some of the experiences I had here and some of the people I met here. They know I give it my all every day, and I expect them to do the same."
It's quite the homecoming.
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