As discussed on the VTSCOOP message board for a few days, it is now being reported by local radio host Greg Roberts, among other outlets, that Texas Tech Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary coach Derek Jones is expected to join Virginia Tech’s staff under newly hired head coach Brent Pry.
Pry and Jones coached together at Memphis in 2007.
On Friday night, Jones announced his departure from Texas Tech on Twitter.
“My family and I would like to thank TTU and Red Raider Nation for a wonderful experience. We’re very appreciative of our time here and the people we’ve met. Texas Tech is an amazing place. We’re very thankful for this chapter and we look forward to our next.”
By joining the Virginia Tech staff, Jones returns to the ACC after spending 12 years with the Duke Blue Devils where he helped lead the team to multiple bowl appearances, an ACC Coastal crown, and was a key recruiter for David Cutcliffe and his staff.
Jones helped develop Ross Cockrell, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the first Duke defensive back selected since 1996.
Prior to his 12-year stay at Duke, Jones coached cornerbacks at Memphis where he worked alongside Coach Pry. He also spent time at Middle Tennessee State and Murray State and was a graduate assistant at Ole Miss.
Off the field, Jones is also a published author. His book, Always Play to Win, went on sale in 2017 and is a collection of quotes designed to inspire and motivate readers to not only have a positive outlook on life but also to strive to approach every situation with a positive attitude.
