Arrington Jones facts for kids

Arrington Jones III (born on February 16, 1959) is a former American football player who became a successful coach. He played as a running back for a short time with the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). He was chosen by the 49ers in the 1981 NFL draft after playing college football at Winston-Salem State University.

Early Life and College Football

Arrington Jones grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He went to John Marshall High School there. After high school, he continued his football journey at Winston-Salem State University. He played for the Winston-Salem State Rams college team from 1978 to 1981.

Playing in the NFL

In 1981, the San Francisco 49ers picked Arrington Jones in the NFL draft. He was the 122nd player chosen overall. He played in one game for the 49ers during the 1981 season. After that game, he was released from the team.

Jones later signed with other NFL teams like the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts. He also played for the Washington Federals in the USFL (United States Football League). However, his time with these teams was brief, and he did not play in any more official games.

A Career in Coaching

After his playing career, Arrington Jones became a football coach. He spent many years helping college teams.

Coaching at Virginia State

From 1986 to 1990, Jones was the special teams coordinator for the Virginia State Trojans at Virginia State University. He then became the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Trojans from 1990 to 2000. During his time there, the Trojans won the CIAA Championship in 1995.

Coaching at Winston-Salem State

From 2001 to 2003, Jones returned to his old college, Winston-Salem State University. He worked as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Rams. In 2001, the Rams made it to the CIAA Championship Game.

Head Coach at Virginia Union

Jones took on a new role as the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Virginia Union Panthers at Virginia Union University. He coached them from 2004 to 2007. His overall record as head coach was 21 wins and 21 losses.

In 2007, his team had a fantastic season, winning 9 games and losing only 1 in the regular season. They won the CIAA Eastern Division Championship. The Panthers also played in the 2007 Pioneer Bowl. Because of his great work, Arrington Jones was named the 2007 CIAA Coach of the Year. He left his coaching position in March 2008.

Coaching at Delaware State

From 2011 to 2014, Jones worked as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Delaware State Hornets at Delaware State University.