Jay Jones is biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity to pursue his first head football coaching job.
Jones felt an opportunity arose this offseason, and the one in Henrietta caught his eye.
It turned out that the attraction was mutual. On Sunday, Henrietta ISD announced via social media that Jones has been named the new head football coach and athletic director.
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“It was the right time and opportunity to expand,” Jones said. “It really feels like a godsend. The whole family is so excited. The timing is perfect for us.”
Jones, 47, came to Henrietta with his wife Stephanie, 22-year-old daughter Trinity, and 18-year-old son Jagger, who will graduate from Frisco High School in May.
Jones spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Frisco High School, a position he held at several big schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including a seven-year stint at Coppell.
The Raccoons went 6-5 last season with Jones and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Henrietta will be the smallest town and school district Jones has ever worked with.
“I've been told that maybe I went to a small school and went to a big school, which is exactly where I've been all my life,” said the 1995 graduate of Allen University. Mr. Jones said. “I think I have some experience that will help prepare me for small school football.”
Jones said the high number of participants at Frisco High School led him to conduct the practice more like a small school program.
“We practiced like a small school because both sides had to play with a lot of kids,” Jones said. “This process is familiar to me at least. As a coordinator at a big school, I was fortunate to work with guys who let me run my offense. Down there, I was given a lot of responsibility as assistant head coach.”
Jones comes to a program that is a perennial playoff contender. The Bearcats have reached the postseason in 11 consecutive seasons, but have only missed the playoffs once since 2003.
He replaces coach Michael Johnson, who had a 23-20 record in four seasons with the Bearcats. Johnson left in January to become offensive coordinator at Class 5A Granbury.
“I know they've always been very good. They're always competing for a playoff spot, to win playoff games,” Jones said. “I feel like sometimes when you take over a program you have to instill a winning tradition and culture. That's not the case here.”
Jones believes in a physical brand of football, but the offense will primarily run from the spread. He says his plan will adapt to personnel, but is clearly still under consideration.
The process has just begun for Jones at Henrietta, but it's one he's been looking forward to his entire career.
“I’m ready to get it started,” Jones said. “I've already met a lot of people in town and I was surprised at how quickly we got help. I know God put us here for a reason, but I can’t wait to find out.”
