By Cade Kennedy, Sports Editor
After playing at Northwestern more than 40 years ago, Ronnie Jones has returned to Alva as the next head coach for the Northwestern football team.
Jones started playing at Northwestern in 1974 as a wide receiver and eventually earned All-American and All-OIC honors in football.
Despite his coaching career taking him away from Alva, Jones said that some things have stayed the same.
“Alva has changed, but the best part is that the people haven’t,” Jones said.
Jones began his coaching journey in 1978 at Northeastern State as both the defensive line and linebackers coach. After five seasons, he got his first NCAA job as the offensive line coach at Tulsa.
Two seasons later, Jones made a move to the highest level of football.
In 1987, Jones became the strength and conditioning coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones coached for the Eagles for four seasons, and eventually coached for four other NFL teams.
Jones returned to the NCAA in 1996, when he became the defensive coordinator for Texas-El Paso. He coached the Miners for four seasons, but left in 2000 to return to the NFL.
Jones’ second stint in the NFL lasted one season, and he returned to the NAIA by taking a head coaching job at Ottawa, Kansas.
For the next three years, Jones coached the Buffaloes of West Texas A&M, but only won five games in three seasons. Jones made his way down to the high school level, where he coached for the next 16 seasons.