ODU men’s basketball coach Jeff Jones announces retirement: full press conference

Jason 0 Comments February 29, 2024 Retire Wealthy Retirement Planning Tips for Retiree's

Um gosh, you know, II, I thought I mentally prepared myself uh to, to at least try to keep my, uh emotions under control and then walking into this, uh I'm not sure it's going to work, but, uh I appreciate so many folks coming out. It's, it's great to see uh uh friends, um bunch of my uh, former and current players, uh the, the staff and family. Um, you know, I wasn't, uh, wasn't really sure I didn't spend a whole whole lot of time, you know, thinking about this. Uh, obviously II, I knew that at some point, uh, you know, it, it, it, it would happen. Um, uh, I guess, you know, De December 20th kind of changed stuff and it gave me an opportunity to, you know, think, um about how grateful I am. Um And what, you know, what really matters and, and, and I've been so fortunate, uh, 41 years and that's, that's a long time.

But the number, sorry, the number of people that I've had the, the, the, the pleasure, the privilege of being associated with over all of those years, um is, is just amazing. Um, you know, all of the, the, the friends, uh, you know, the, the, the administrators, the coaches, the players and, and on and on. I feel like I'm a, uh, a, a really, a really, uh, lucky person. Uh, I've, I've been extremely blessed, um, and it's, it's something that II, I don't, and I haven't, uh, taken for granted the older I got, hopefully the smarter I got, uh, I still liked winning. I still hated losing.

But more than anything, the, the relationships, the friendships of the being, the being part of a team is something that is really, really special and it's something that, you know, you don't have to be in sports. It's something that, you know, I wish for, for my own Children, my, my grandkids and really for everybody, you know, that you're able to experience that joy to be part of something bigger than you. And in, in, in that way also, I've, I've been very, very, you know, very, very lucky. Um, there's, there's so many people, uh, that I, I wanna thank and, and I'll get around to it eventually.

I'm gonna have a lot of time on my hands. Um, but, but two in, in particular, uh, you know, today that I want to single out uh our uh President Hemphill and uh my friend and Boss Wood Selig, um II, I can't imagine having better bosses uh than, than those two guys, um uh supportive, understanding, uh you know, willing to, to to listen, to serve as a sounding board. Uh, you know, there's, there's plenty of times I've, I've been with wood and I know it's hard for some of you that work with him to, to, to, to understand or to, to, to think about. But, you know, where he doesn't say anything, he just kind of sits there and, and, and listens, uh, and, um, you know, even as, as, as, as far as the way everything has gone down today, um, uh, thank you all, both very, very much.

I, I appreciate everything that you've done for me, everything that you continue to do for, for old Dominion and, and all of this. Um, you know, there's, there's another group in here that, uh, kind of is, is, has been dealt in, in unusual and, and not ideal hand and that's the, the, the coaching staff. Um, I'm, I'm, and I've, I've, I've told them, um, trying, trying not to make eye contact with them.

Um, you know, the, the, it hadn't been easy, it hadn't been easy for the players, hadn't been easy for, for the staff. Um, and I know that, that these guys have done a great job. Um, you know, in, in athletics, you, it's a competition so you keep score, you know, and the score hasn't always been on our side. But I, I do think there's, there's, uh, alternative ways of, of looking at things and if you look at how they've poured themselves into this team, this university since I had to step away. Um II, I think the job that they have done, uh is, is remarkable. So, II, I do wanna thank Kieran and, and Chrisco and Chris Taliani, Drew Lakey Jordan Brooks, Jamal's back there. Uh You know, thank you all so much for, uh, you know, doing what you've done in a very, very difficult situation. Um, as, as far as the retirement, uh, you know, I think it's just very, very simple.

It's, it's, it's time. Um, you know, when I've, when I've thought about it, um, there's, there's still a part of me and it is not an insignificant part that wants to coach. There's nothing more that I would like to do then to come back another year and, and, uh, kind of fix things to, to, to, to go out on a, on a, you know, on, on a, on a different note, so to speak. Um, but there's the, the, the other side, you know, from a health perspective, I'm doing great. I'm not retiring because my health is bad. Um, my health is good. Uh, I've, I've been a good patient.

Um, I followed Dna's orders. Um, you know, I'm shoot, I'm, I'm eating healthier than I have maybe in my entire life. Um, I should, you know, take, uh, take stock in the, a salad company or, or something. But, um, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm walking a lot I'm getting out, I'm doing hopefully all, all the right things and I feel great, but I think a big part of the feeling great, um, is, is also not, not having that stress that I've had for 41 years as a coach, 32 as, as a head coach.

And believe me, it's, it's, it's different, not, not being in that, that pressure cooker and, and, and so while I, I thought, well, you know, I'm feeling great, you know, maybe maybe one more year, um, the, the more I thought about it, you know, there's, there's a lot of things to look forward to. Um, and II, I did want to, you know, prioritize my, my family, my health, um, and, uh, and happiness I think being happy is, is really, really, really underrated. Um, so I, you know, I came to the conclusion and, you know, I, I know for, uh, you know, for, for the team, maybe this isn't the, the ideal, uh, the ideal timing but, you know, really two things kind of factored in one, you know, I, I just felt like it'd be dishonest or disingenuous, um, to know that I, I was gonna step away and, you know, to, to not go ahead and do it.

Um, you know, people in this community have been so, uh, just so kind, um, with their well wishes and their, their, their care. Uh, and, and, you know, if I, I, if, if I knew I, I wasn't coming back. I, I don't know. I, that would just been tough. And, and then the other thing is, uh, you know, these, these two guys have, uh, have a, a job of, of finding the, the next person if, you know, if, if, by doing it today, you know, they, they can get, I don't know, jumpstart but, and find that right guy and I want them to find that right guy. Uh, there's, there's no doubt that, uh, you know, uh, and, and I'm saying them, you know, it's, it's, it's we and, and, uh, you know, I wanna make sure that, uh, you know, that we're all doing everything we can for the next person.

Uh, you know, I followed a AAA great coach with, with, with Blaine and then, uh, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm excited about whoever that next person is and I want them and, and old Dominion to, to, to, to do great and I know that's what will happen. Um I'm just, you know, I'm, uh, I'm, I'm overwhelmed by all, all of this and, you know, my phone's been ringing off the hook or, you know, the, the, the texts and everything and, um, that, that is, uh tremendously gratifying to hear from people 2030 40 years ago, people that I just met this year.

Um, it's, uh, you know, it's really, really, really special. Uh I'm, I'm so appreciative of everything that, that, that's gone. On, uh, and, uh, you know, I've, I've got nothing but, but, but fond memories, it, it is tough as you can tell. It's, it's emotional but it's, it's, it's, it's, it's the right thing. It's the right time and I feel, feel very good about my decision.

Um, move on to questions. Totally. Your decision. Well, she factored in a little bit. Yeah, it was, you know, it was something that, you know, and I, the way I approach things, you know, I, I don't look too far ahead. So after December 20th, you know, I had a little bit of time and then I, I thought about it and, ok, I decided I was gonna step away. Um, I didn't think at that time I wasn't thinking too far in the future.

I was thinking kind of right now. Um, and, and then, you know, after a, a few weeks of, you know, doing, doing that, that, that's about the time when I started thinking about it and, you know, kind of arguing with my myself, you know, the left shoulder, right shoulder and, and going back and forth and then I, before I was 100% but definitely knew which way I was leaning. I, I thought I talked to wood and, and, you know, and told him and, you know, we had had discussions and ultimately just kinda, you know, I, it kind of was a family decision but I, you know, in, in my own mind.

It was, it was time. I, I think I knew what the family wanted. Uh, but I had to be on, on board with, with that Jeff. You're, you've been emotional here in this setting. What was it like telling the team? When did you do it? Where did you do it? Um, we, we, we met with the team, uh, this morning at, at, at nine o'clock. Um, uh, it was in between one of our guys had an eight o'clock class. So we, you know, we couldn't do it any, any earlier. Um, and, uh, you know, it wasn't unemotional but it, you know, I, I came into it, um, uh, what was really hard was when I had to tell him that I wasn't gonna finish the season.

That was, I, you know, I felt like I, I know I wasn't, but I felt like I was abandoning them and, and, you know, it's always been about the team and, and, and I had to, at that time I had to think about myself and that was really, really hard and, and very emotional. I, uh, at times had a hard time, you know, getting, getting words out. Um, you know, so there was certainly some emotion today but it wasn't anywhere near that. Um, and, uh, you know, uh, met with the staff last night and, you know, be, besides just saying, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna retire. Uh, you know, I wanted to let the players know that I care about them. I love them. Uh just because I retired doesn't mean that, you know, I'm not interested in their, their lives and in their development anymore, uh with, with the staff, you know, I wanted to make sure that they knew that, uh, you know, how appreciative I, I was. Um and so there's some, some emotion in that, but I think, um I'm just good with the decision and so there's, there, there is emotion.

I don't, I don't know how much sadness there, there is. Have you not, I mean, not, not really, um, you know, I think there, there probably we, we will have some discussions but it's nothing that, um, I have no idea right now, kind of what, what path, uh, I, I wanna go down. Um, I, I, you know, I know, I, I'm not really interested in a, you know, high pressure job not looking for stepping from one to, to another. Um, if, if anything I wanna do something that can impact people in a, in a positive way. Um, I've, I've really, really, really enjoyed my time with Samaritan's feet and, and the coaches versus cancer and, and troops first. Um, you know, is, is there some kind of role in something like that? Uh, I, I don't know, but that, that'll be the next step. I haven't, you know, looked, you know, too, too far. Um, you know, I know that there's, uh, a, a AAA trip to, uh, Northern Kentucky, uh, to, to visit my, my mom that's in the immediate future.

Uh, there's some trips down to Charlottesville, um, to, uh, hang out and not make it an up and up and back, uh, trip to, to see Megan and, and Madison and, and the grandkids. Um, you know, but beyond that, I don't have a whole lot of plans. Coach. You, you, you, you mentioned professionally, you don't know, you just talked about some personal plans there.

But are there any other things that, that you're looking forward to personally, maybe making up for some lost time when you were involved in coaching that you're gonna make some time to do? Um, I, I don't really have a, a bucket list of anything that, that's the problem and, and I, I've realized this, you know, I'm, I'm s so boring. I mean, I, I've got, I've got no hobbies, right. Unless you can call reading a hobby. I mean, you know, II, I love to read but you can only read and walk with so many hours in the day. So I wanna have to f figure out something, but I don't really have any hobbies, a, a bucket list, so to speak. So there's nothing that, that comes to mind immediately. Um, you know, Scott, I would say, you know, get up and, and see more nationals games this year because I'll have an opportunity. But you know, they, they, uh, it's almost like they're not even trying, you know.

Um, but II, I do love, I, you know, I do, I do love getting to, to the ballpark. Um, so, you know, things like that, but there's, there's nothing that I can think of right now. Not, not that one thing, coach 41 years and you have players of current and past in here simply put, it's been a long journey. What does basketball mean to you? You know, I was, I was thinking this this morning and, uh, you know, I wasn't gonna say what came to mind because Jason Wade would think it was just another corny joke. But, um, you know, back when I was much younger, I remember there was a skit, uh, in Saturday night, um, when the, the guy said, uh, baseball has been very, very good to me and, and, and it has basketball has been, has been awesome to me.

Um, you know, I've already kind of touched on the, the relationships, the friendships but the opportunities, um, you know, the, the opportunities to travel, uh, you know, um I don't think I have any desire to go back to Hawaii, but this, this last trip that was, that was my eighth trip and, and, and they all were connected one way or another with, with, with basketball. Uh, you know, I've been to the Caribbean, I've been to a bunch of, uh, countries in, in, in Europe and, uh, you know, the Middle East and, uh, you know, basketball has allowed me to, to live a life that, you know, this young, young kid in Owensboro, Kentucky, you know, II, I can guarantee, I, I wasn't, I wasn't thinking in, in those terms. So, uh, you know, um, without getting too much and, and Karen will laugh but there was a movie, the, the river back a while ago and, and I've, I've likened basketball is, is being my river and, and that's where our lives, not just mine, but our families have, have kind of revolved around this game.

And it's been really, really uh wonderful to, to me and, and my family Saturday night was, you know, emotional for you. Did that provide any closure and, and conviction that, you know, this was the right decision. Uh No, I, I, you know, it was, it was very emotional obviously to, to say goodbye. I, in, in, in a sense to, to Ty and, and Jason and especially Jason. Um it's been well documented, everything that he's gone through.

And I can't, I can't remember one time. I can remember times when he was down, I can't remember one time when he complained, takes a special, special person, a tough, a tough person to go through what he's gone through and to come out the other end, you know, and it, it, it, it's continued to, it's continued to amaze me, right? Because just a couple of years ago, just the fact that he was back out there, right.

I'm thinking, ok, this is a win and he keeps pushing and then it's another step and another step. Um, so to see where, where he is, you know, and, and, and, and not to, not to push or to put pressure on him. But, you know, I, I've got my fingers crossed and he is thinking in terms of coaching as a profession. Um Man, what an example, you know, uh you talk about impacting and, and being able to help people uh help young men. Um You know, so iii I, it was like I had to be there. I mean, I wanted to be there. I asked KD if you know, I didn't want to be a distraction.

I asked him if it was OK. I, I talked to wood after that and they both gave me the thumbs up and so I was planning on being there, the, the thing that sealed it was um Friday during the day. Uh Jay, Jay Jay called me up and asked me if I was going to be there. I, so you're damn right. So it was, it, it was AAA special night. Now, I think the the emotion took on even even more for me knowing that today was happening too.

Um uh When, when Denne and I walked down the, the the back hallway, you know, players were out on the court, you know, warming up and Katie was in the, in, in the locker room and it was just the two of us and man, it just hit me. I wasn't expecting it. So, you know, uh the that added too, I, I think um but I, I don't think it gave me any more closure or, or, or anything like like that, Jeff, you mentioned earlier, your gratitude for your staff.

How helpful was it that so many of those guys have been around you for so long guys? Like it's not like these are guys who just arrived into your life. Yeah. Um II I think it was very, very helpful. It, number one, um you know, obviously I, I wanted to be there and, and all that, but I trusted them, right? I knew that not only did they have my back, they had one another's back. Um It's a group regardless that, you know, I, I never had to worry about guys being in the office or putting in the, in the time or any, any of that. Um So, you know, the fact, I mean, KD and I have been together for as long as, as we have obviously, you know, Jamal uh going back to when he was um I'm gonna call you precocious uh freshman out of Jamaica Queens.

Um And, and knowing one another since then and you know, Chris go gosh, 1111 years, you know, 11 years and Drew's been around you know, uh, Chris Tahani and Jordan are kind of the, the, the, the, the, the newcomers. Um, but, you know, they've, they've been part of it for a couple of years. So, um, I, I wasn't worried, I, I knew that we were in good hands in terms of, you know, coaching the team and, and, and, you know, at least trying to do the things that, that needed to be done. You have to go back to your relationship with Jason.

He told us after you guys had the conversation about not finishing the season that he told you I got your back after everything he had been through, you had his back. Does that validate why you do this beyond what you do on the court, the relationship that you cultivated with players like Jason. Absolutely. Absolutely. And, and, and Jay obviously is AAA great example, but, you know, in the back of the room, um you know, Cornell Parker, uh one of Norfolk's finest that uh played for me at, at, at U VA in, in, in Junior Borough. Um uh you know, I mean, II, I love those guys. Um And uh I truly, truly, you know, value their, uh our, our relationship. Um You know, I'm happy Chan Chauncey's here, you know, Chauncey's the youngster in, in the bunch.

Um And, you know, Chauncey's only been here, you know, I guess about 22 years. But, um, you know, I've got so much respect for for him as well. And I, I think those, those connections, as, as I said earlier, the older I got, um, the more I realize that's what I look, you know, you got, you gotta win, right. You gotta win, you know, and you can have all the relationships with you want and if you're, you're losing, you know, the, the A DS, it's, it's a business but within, within the, the business, you know, that's, that's, that's really something really, really special and I forgot Drew Drew Lakey is not just on the staff. He's also a former player too. So, co congratulations on a, on a great career. Can you talk a little bit about that realization as you grew through your career? I'm wondering what are some other big differences between the man and the coach that was first starting out in this business and the man and the coach sitting here now? Ok. Um And it would be really, really hard I think for Jason and chauncey uh to uh absorb or believe this, but Junior Borough would tell you that, that I've really mellowed.

Um And now he, he comes, he, he comes by that pretty uh uh honestly because he, he was the one if there ever was one guy because I it didn't matter. He didn't listen to me if I cursed, he didn't listen to me. I yell, he didn't listen to me no matter what. So, you know, it, it, it didn't have any, any bearing on, on, on him at all. Um, sorry, I went off on a tangent. What's the question again? That was one of them. But the other big differences between the person first starting out. Oh, well, you know, I, I think it's really funny. Uh, I do remember, uh, and I was 2930. I just turned 30 years old when my, my first year as head coach at, at Virginia.

And, you know, I was determined to, you know, to be calm, cool and, and collective and certainly for that first year, iii I think I was, um, to the point where there was in the Richmond Times Dispatch, there was a AAA caricature done of, you know, it is a cartoon, um, you know, Jeff Jones in a hurricane. Jeff Jones in a close game, Jeff Jones in, you know, all kinds of different situations and the facial expression was all the same. Um, that was very much put on. Um, and I, I remember after that, that season, some of it, it wasn't any, any of my players, but some of my former teammates kind of said, what, what, what, what's that all about? You need to be yourself. Um, and so that's when, you know, I decided, I, I guess not decided, but I became the raging lunatic that, that, um, and, and so I think, you know, that, that changed and, and with young coaches and, and I've, you know, talked with, with our staff and, and others that, you know, are, are able to go on as, as coaches. You've, you've got to find your voice.

Um, what, whatever that, that may be, everybody doesn't coach the, the same, uh, you, you can't try to be something that you're not. Um, and, uh, you know, 11 thing that I've always tried to be, we talked about this is authentic. Uh, you know, I'm, I'm not putting on some, from some facade. Uh, it's kind of what you see is what you get. And, um, you know, for, for me as a young coach, I was, even though it was at the AC C level, you know, I, I need to define, you know, what, what that was. I do think. I mean, you know, gosh, I, I sure hope I'm, I know I'm a better coach now than I was when I was 30 years old.

Um, I, I hope I'm smarter. Uh, II, I always kinda chuckle when, when, you know, people ask, you know, would you do anything over and they say, you know, I wouldn't do anything. It helped me. Gosh, there's so many things, I mean, you know, if we had another two hours, I could probably list, you know, all, all the, the mistakes or things I'd like to do, you know, but you, you learn from mistakes, you learn from adversity. Um, and those are all lessons that we try to teach the, the, the, the team.

Um, but it, it, it's also a lesson I, I think for, for me, for, for coaches in, in general is, you know, we don't have all the answers and sometimes we, we screw up and when we do, you just wanna, you wanna be better, you know, own up to them and, and be better as a coach's song as a former president of the National Coaches Association. maybe this is a common, but after 41 years, business, how would you assess where college basketball is? Are you optimistic pessimistic, um, without getting into specifics? Because I think that would be for another day.

I'm really scared. Um IIII I don't know what, what, what's the goal, what are we trying to do? Um, you know, at, at a time, um, where, you know, just, just, I mean, money, it's all about money and, and, you know, it's easy, you talk about the nil or whatever we, you know, we want to point out the players, well, you know, uh conference realignment, uh, it's, it's a money grab. It is what it is and I don't know how we criticize the student athletes when we're doing stuff. That's, that's the, the same thing. And, you know, can we ever get to a point again where the greater good, uh, where, what is right is valued more than what brings in more cash.

Um, uh, the, the, the, the other thing and you know, I'm, I'm getting up on a soapbox but you're in locker rooms, you talk to coaches and, and athletes and when was the last time we heard anybody really talk about education? You know, we, we, we do kind of peripherally talk about graduation. We talk about getting the diploma. Well, I don't know about you, James Madison. Right. You know, at, at U VA, there was so much more that went into my college education than simply getting a damn piece of paper. Um, and if, if, if, if we're gonna set the bar that low and say, you know, what does a degree mean? If you're not, you know, if, if, if education isn't really, really important. Um, and, uh, you know, I, I think we as a society, I mean, I don't think it's athletic departments, you know, as a society, we, we, we don't value education the way that, that we should, you know, and I'm not pointing the finger at one person or one group.

I'm just saying, I, I think it's a shame, you know, there, there, there is a value to that. Um, and so I, I think of those, those two things when I, I say it's, it's, it's, it's scary. Um, oh, I'm, I'm afraid of, of where it is that we're going. I have no idea what, what direction we're going but it just seems like it's just more and more and more and more about money and less and less and less about education. Would you like to be a voice help? II, I don't, I don't know that, you know, there's a difference between being a voice and then actually, you know, I, it's, it's a fight. I, I don't know that I'm ready for, for a fight, you know. Um, uh, and because it's got to come down to more than words, you know, I mean, there, there has to be things, uh actions taken, you know, actions speak louder than words. Uh The hard thing because I'm, I'm not, you know, I, I criticize the NCAA when, when they deserve it, but I think oftentimes they're criticized just for everything, right? And, and, and um sometimes the NCAA can't do lawsuits, you know, there's, there's all these lawsuits and I'm, you know, I'm a big law and Order guy but it's, it's, it's hard for, you know, the NCAA to, to implement some of these things that are the, the right things.

But if, if the court say it's illegal, so I, I don't know the solutions. I, I just know that it, it does frighten me moving forward. JJ. College coaching has changed a lot in the last years because of the NIL portal. Um It's much more time consuming. Did that have anything to do with this decision? Um Well, first, so I, I think there's always been an evolution, right? In the 41 years. 3032 is, is the head coach, you know, there, there's always an evolution. So coaching is always changing, right? The the rules change and society change, you know, there's always those, those kind of things.

But I think because of nil because of the transfer portal and some of the other issues that we're facing now, um the changes have been coming fast and furious. Right? And so that's the, there, there, it's like they're extremes and so it doesn't give you time to adjust the way. Maybe in the past that you put as a coach, um, specifically for me. I mean, I'd, I'd lie if I, I said that they didn't play a role. I mean, uh, is it a major factor? No, I mean, there's other things that, that, that factored in, you know, a lot more but, you know, dealing with, you know, you know, things dealing with changes the, the, the, the transfer portal and, and, and I'm not a, a, like, I'm, I'm not a believer in, uh, well, the, you know, players should never transfer.

Right. That, that's it. I mean, you know, if something's, if it's not a good situation for you, no matter what, you know, looking for a new job, looking for a new but what, what gets lost in, in the, the one voice I've heard really espoused. This is Tom Izzo, um, because he's not afraid to be a contrarian, um, is, you know, at some point, you know, do we, do we need to save the, the, the, the kids, the, the, the young people from themselves.

I know my kids would tell you growing up they didn't get to do everything that, that they wanted. And after the fact, you know, sometimes, you know, they say, uh, you, you were right. You know, um, and I think by, you know, if, if, if, if, if people, if the young people are running from adversity or running from, you know, what, whatever, rather than facing adversity and finding a way to work through it.

Right. Um, I think they get stronger. Um, you know, uh, was it Nietzsche? You know, that, that, which does not destroy us only serves to make us stronger. Um, II, I believe that. Um, and, and so, uh, you know, those, those things, those issues are or things that I'll say, complicate the coaching profession. Now, uh, what a coach, the different hats that a coach has to wear now, um, are far more than what when I started when I was 29 years old at, at, at U VA. It's, it's, it's, it's not even close.

And I do remember at the, at the end of that year, you know, being with Coach Island and saying, look at it seems like, you know, head coaching, I, I've got 1000 different brush fires going and I've got no chance of putting them out. All I really do is make sure that those brush fires don't turn into raging infernos, you know, that was, then that was in what, 90 you know, you know, so however many years, years later you have to deal with even more. Um, so, but ha ha having said that right, and I was joking with wood earlier today and, and President Hemphill, um, you know, coaching, it's, it's, it's better than working for a living.

That's what I've always said, you know, um, it's, it's, it's hard but it's, it's great too and, you know, to kind of circle back. I'm really, really lucky. Coach Mark Nation leads the conference and attendance again this year. I witnessed that Saturday night, you have a message for coach. Um, they're, they're the best.

I mean, it's, it's, uh, you know, it's not real complicated. Um, you know, think, think about AAA mid major, uh, you know, struggling the way we are this year and leading, leading the conference, you know, it's not like there's a bunch of little schools in, in, in our league. I mean, you know, I mean, James Madison's got a great, uh, great arena and, you know, they got a bunch of students and everything and, you know, Marshall and, and, and, and others and, and for us to, to be there, I think, says a lot about, uh, our fans commitment about their love for the program but, but probably more the love for the institution. Um, and it's a really, really, really special group. Uh, you know, we've, we've been so, uh, I don't know. I, we, we, we love living here. We love being part of the community, part of the neighborhood, part of the family. Uh, and I think that's a, a big part. We're, we're not going anywhere. I mean, I'm, I'm retiring.

I'm not gonna coach anymore. But, you know, we're still gonna be, uh, uh, uh, you know, a part of this community and, and excited to, to do. So, what do you do with all the bask basketball knowledge, huh? Um, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm sure there'll be, be ways of, uh, sharing. Uh, if, if, if you will, um, you know, I, I've talked with, uh, Tim Floyd, uh, coached a lot of different places but, uh, and Kermit Davis who was at, uh, middle of Tennessee for a bunch of years, um, we've, we've become very close to the, the last couple of years, uh, that we traveled to Kuwait, uh, this, this summer together. Um, Dave Odom, uh, and, and others, we've, we've kind of joked around and talked about, you know, can, can we do, uh, uh, a really good, uh, clinic for retired coaches or of retired coaches? You know, and again, you know, we don't have a whole lot of other stuff to do. So Cliff Ellis, you know, would be another. But, um, yeah, I don't know, I don't know.

Maybe I can go watch, uh, Cornell and, and Juniors teams both of them won their conference championships this week. So proud of those guys. You seem Saturday night, you seem to get especially emotional a hug. The athletic trainer. Is there anything to be into that? No. Um That I think, I think Jason was the first cause we came down the hallway and when I finally pull our head up, he was the first person. I, I think that I, I saw not, not to, you know, downplay that at all, but, you know, there wasn't, there's not a medical thing or anything else. LA, the very, very last thing. Um, I do, uh, I guess as they say, save the best for last. Um, I wanna, I want to probably publicly thank Den today for being my person. The coach's wife has a really, really tough job and, uh, I couldn't have done it without you.

So thank you. And then the last thing, no more Coach Jones now it's part. Thank you..

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