After two seasons as secondary coach, Daronte’ Jones’ has earned the title of assistant head coach in 2014. The Capital Heights, Md., native will still assume the role of secondary coach.
In 2012, with the help of all-Mountain West cornerback Mike Edwards, the Rainbow Warriors ranked 11th nationally, allowing 182.8 yards per game.
The team returns nearly its entire secondary in 2014 with only the loss of four-year starting safety John Hardy-Tuliau. The unit returs starting cornerbacks Ne’Quan Phillips and Dee Maggitt and safeties Marrell Jackson and Trayvon Henderson, all of whom saw time in the starting lineup last season.
Jones joined the Rainbow Warrior staff after a one-year stint as defensive backs coach with Montreal of the Canadian Football League. He helped the Alouettes finish second in the East Division and coached Chip Cox, a first-team CFL all-star.
Prior to Montreal, Jones spent one season as defensive graduate assistant at UCLA, where he assisted the defensive coaches with game preparation and worked with the cornerbacks. It was at UCLA where Jones and current UH head coach Norm Chow worked together on the Bruins staff.
From 2005-09, Jones was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Bowie State University in Maryland. In addition to coordinating the Bulldogs’ defense, Jones also served as the pro liaison. At Bowie State, Jones’ defense was known as an aggressive, attacking unit that ranked No. 1 in Division II in total defense in 2009, allowing only 217.7 yards per game. They also ranked No. 2 nationally in rushing defense (56.5 yards per game) and ninth in pass-efficiency defense. Two Bulldogs were named first team All-CIAA and two more were named to the second unit.
During his tenure, BSU’s defense ranked in the Top 5 nationally in five different statistical categories (total defense, scoring defense, pass-efficiency defense, sacks and rushing defense, including third or higher in total defense). Under Jones’ watch, eight defensive players were named All-CIAA, three were named All-CIAA Rookie Class, and one was named D2football.com All-American.
Before joining the Bulldogs staff, Jones served as assistant football coach and defensive coordinator at Jeanerette (La.) Senior High School (2004) and assistant coach and physical education teacher at Franklin Senior High School (2003-04). He also served as assistant football coach/defensive backs at Nicholls State University (2002-03) and defensive graduate assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne College (2001-02).
Jones earned a bachelor’s in 2001 from Morgan State University. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Jones is single and resides in Honolulu.
The Jones FileHometown: Capital Heights, Md.
EducationMorgan State, 2001, Bachelor’s
Playing Experience
1996: Temple
1997-2001: Morgan State
Coaching Experience2012-: Hawai‘i, Secondary
2011: Montreal (CLF), Defensive Backs
2010: UCLA, Graduate Assistant / Cornerbacks
2005-09: Bowie State, Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator
2004: Franklin Senior High School, Defensive Coordinator
2003-04: Jeanerette (LA) High School, Defensive Coordinator
2002-03: Nicholls State, Safeties
2001-02: Lenoir-Rhyne College, Graduate Assistant
