Marshall coach Donnie Jones, according to a source also in the mix
for the position, is leaving for Central Florida.
Jones led the Thundering Herd to a 24-9 mark this past season
and an 11-5 record in Conference USA — his third season
at the helm.
On the surface, it may seem like an odd move within
Conference USA. However, Central Florida — located in
Orlando — is thought to be a sleeping giant in the
league.
They have a $107 million arena that seats nearly 10,000 and
also recently inked a five-year Nike deal due to relationship
between the shoe company and Michael Jordan, whose son, Marcus,
just finished his freshman season at the school.
According to sources, Central Florida athletic director Keith
Tribble interviewed 10 Division I head coaches and a half-dozen or
so high-level assistants. The job, according to multiple coaches,
was attractive due to the school’s commitment to the
basketball program.
Coaches also said that Tribble mentioned that the Knights are
interested in trying to move to the Big East.
Jones, 43, is a West Virginia native who spent six years at
Marshall as an assistant, then was with Billy Donovan for 11 years
at Florida, and was key in the Gators' back-to-back national
championship run in 2006 and 2007.
Jones will take over for Kirk Speraw, who was 279-233 in 17
years with the Knights.
