NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women's basketball head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones announced the additions of Roneeka Hodges and Roland Jones Jr. to her staff. Hodges, who boasts 11 years of experience in the WNBA, has been named the second assistant coach. Joining the staff as director of operations, Jones brings a competitive background in coaching, both semi-professional and collegiate.
A rising star in the coaching ranks, Hodges spent the 2019-20 season in an advisor role with LSU following her extensive playing career. Competing both internationally and in the WNBA, Hodges was drafted 15th overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft. First playing for the Houston Comets, Hodges also made stops with the Indiana Fever, San Antonio Silver Stars, Atlanta Dream, Minnesota Lynx and the Tulsa Shock. Overseas, the New Orleans, La., native competed in eight different leagues as a guard. While playing in the WNBA, Hodges played in 297 games for five teams in 11 seasons, posting career averages of 6.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
"Roneeka will be a great addition to our staff that will bring the professional mentality we will live by here at ODU women's basketball," expressed Milton-Jones. Her years of service in the WNBA and internationally as a pro will fit in effortlessly. Having a staff with a former professional allows for us to have tangibility for our players. We have lived the lives they are pursuing and Roneeka will be an asset towards mentoring and showing them how to get there. She will compliment my style of coaching and bring a workmanship that will allow us to move progressively towards this programs future."
Prior to her professional playing career, from 2000-2005, Hodges played college hoops at LSU for three years before completing her eligibility at Florida State. Her senior season, Hodges earned 2004-05 Kodak Region II All-American honors and was selected to play in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Challenge. In 2005, she earned first team All-ACC honors after racking up 615 points that year. At LSU, Hodges played in 94 games for the Tigers, earning 37 starts. In 2001, she earned Honorable Mention Freshman All-American according to womenscollegehoops.com. She graduated from FSU with a degree in social sciences.
A veteran in the game of basketball, Jones has experience both playing and coaching. Jones spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Etiwanda High School in California, a top-25 nationally ranked program, where he worked primarily with the guards and post players. In two seasons, Jones helped lead the California school to 53 wins. Prior to that, Jones served as assistant coach on Milton-Jones' staff at Pepperdine for the 2017-18 season. During his time with the Waves, Jones helped guide Pepperdine to 10 wins, the most at the Malibu school since 2012. Jones also helped recruit and develop the following class, that won 22 games in 2018-19, the program's most wins since 2002.
"Roland Jones brings a vast knowledge of the game from his long and celebrated career as a player on all levels ranging from high school to the professional ranks both domestically and internationally," explained Milton-Jones. "He has a bright mind defensively and is very skilled at player development. His role for our program here at ODU will consist of daily basketball operations as well as imparting his knowledge within the staff. Roland is trustworthy and full of commitment towards seeing our program excel. His positive energy and fresh perspective will greatly be welcomed into the ODU women's basketball family."
Before working with Pepperdine, Jones served as head coach and owner of the Nationwide All Stars, a semi-professional organization. From 2013-16, as head coach Jones led his teams to second and third place finishes, respectively in the Summer Pro League And1 International Championship in Dubai. In 2013, Jones earned the summer league's Coach of the Year honor. The year before, he was tabbed the West Coast Basketball Coach of the Year.
Before stepping into coaching, Jones played both collegiately and professionally. Overseas, Jones played in over nine countries, including Dominican Republic and Russia. Overall, Jones has played in the American Basketball Association, Continental Basketball Association, Southwest Basketball League and International Basketball Association during his career.
As a college player, Jones earned JUCO Honorable Mention All-American honors at Cochise and as a senior at Central Methodist College earned All-Conference first team. While playing at CMC, he averaged 22.8 ppg, 3.4 boards, 3.6 assists and 2 steals. With CMC and the University of Arkansas Monticello, he earned Newcomer of the Year accolades in both leagues.
Hodges and Jones join Brandy Manning on Milton-Jones' inaugural staff.
Milton-Jones Announces Women’s Basketball Staff Additions
