Ernest Jones

Ernest Jones is entering his third season on Brian Kelly[apos]s staff. Jones[apos] primary responsibility is instructing the Bearcats[apos] running backs. In 2006, he helped develop a Central Michigan rushing attack that averaged 127.9 yards per game. Jones moved to the offensive side after serving as the cornerbacks coach in 2005. Prior to the 2006 season, Jones was one of 25 coaches nationwide selected to participate in the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy, a program designed to assist coaches with career advancement, networking and exposure opportunities, and to raise awareness regarding the substantial pool of talented and qualified minority coaching candidates. Jones arrived at CMU from Oberlin College where he served as the defensive coordinator and defensive secondary coach in 2004. He spent the 2003 campaign at Kentucky State. After playing five years of professional football, Jones began his coaching career at Concordia University (Minn.) where he mentored the defensive backs from 2000-02. Jones, who earned an associate[apos]s degree from Hinds Community College in 1993, is a 1995 graduate of Alcorn State University. He earned a master[apos]s degree from Concordia in 2002 and is currently working on his doctorate in human services at Walden University.