Charles "Yogi" Jones facts for kids
| Hamburg Sea Devils (ELF) | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | 1960/1961 (age 64–65) |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Ringgold (Carroll Township, Pennsylvania) |
| College: | Pittsburgh |
| Undrafted: | 1983 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
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| As coach: | |
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Charles "Yogi" Jones is a well-known figure in American football. He used to play as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the famous Dallas Cowboys team. Before becoming a professional player, he played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. Today, Charles Jones is the head coach for the Hamburg Sea Devils in the European League of Football.
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Early Football Days
Charles Jones, also known as "Yogi," started playing college football in 1978. He joined the University of Pittsburgh team as a freshman. He played for five years, becoming a team captain in his final year, 1982. His team was ranked number one in the country that year.
Playing in the NFL
In 1983, Charles "Yogi" Jones signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He joined the team as an "undrafted rookie." This means he was not chosen in the main player draft but signed with a team afterward. Unfortunately, he got injured during preseason games and training camp. This injury meant he had to stop playing professional football.
Coaching Career
After his playing career ended, Charles Jones became a football coach. He has held many coaching jobs over the years.
Early Coaching Roles
He started as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh. Later, he became the first full-time African-American coach at James Madison University in 1987. That year, the team had a great season, winning 9 out of 11 games. They even made it to the national playoffs.
Jones then coached at other universities like Rutgers, Pitt, and Tulane.
NFL Europe and Beyond
He later coached in NFL Europe, a league that helped develop players for the NFL. He worked as a defensive coach for several teams:
- Frankfurt Galaxy (who won the World Bowl in 1999)
- Glasgow
- Berlin
- Hamburg (who won the World Bowl in 2007)
After NFL Europe, Jones spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He worked as a scout, helping the team find new college and professional players.
Bethune-Cookman and Current Role
Next, Jones became the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Bethune-Cookman University. He stayed there for 12 seasons. During his time, the team won six MEAC Championships. They also won two HBCU National Championships. Their defense was often ranked among the best in the nation.
In February 2022, Charles "Yogi" Jones was announced as the new head coach. He now leads the Hamburg Sea Devils in the European League of Football.
Personal Life
Charles "Yogi" Jones is married and has two children.
