Roland Jones Jr. joined the staff of head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones in September 2020 as the director of basketball operations and was elevated to the position of assistant coach/recruiting coordinator a year later. He is currently in his fifth year with the program in 2024-25.
A veteran in the game of basketball, Jones has experience both playing and coaching. Before arriving in Norfolk, Jones spent 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.
A veteran in the game of basketball, Jones has experience both playing and coaching. Before arriving in Norfolk, Jones spent 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.
Last season saw ODU earn a first-round bye in the WNIT, the team's second postseason tournament appearance since Coach Milton-Jones took over the program. The Monarchs reached the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship and finished the 2023-24 campaign 22-10 overall and 12-6 in conference play. It marked ODU's third straight season with 20-plus wins. Kaye Clark was voted Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and En'Dya Buford was named to the All-Conference Third Team.
The Monarchs reached the semifinals of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship, finishing 22-12 overall and 12-6 in league play during the 2022-23 season. ODU landed on the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll four times as the Monarchs owned the best home record in the Sun Belt at 13-2 (.867). Amari Young represented ODU on the All-Sun Belt Second Team as well as on the All-Tournament Team.
The 2022-23 season saw the Monarchs reach the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship, finishing 22-12 overall and 12-6 in league play. ODU landed on the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll four times as the Monarchs owned the best home record in the Sun Belt at 13-2 (.867). Amari Young represented ODU on the All-Sun Belt Second Team as well as on the All-Tournament Team.
In 2021-22, the Monarchs finished 24-10 overall and 12-6 in Conference USA. The Monarchs recorded a pair of Power 5 wins (Auburn and Texas Tech) and also defeated eventual C-USA Tournament champions Charlotte on the road. Iggy Allen and Ajah Wayne were named to the first team All-Conference USA team as the Monarchs advanced to the second round of the WNIT.
Jones was on staff in 2020-21 as the Monarchs went 13-11 overall and reached the semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament as the No. 6 seed. ODU was 7-2 in its final nine games of the season, and scored a road upset over eventual C-USA Tournament champs Middle Tennessee. Victoria Morris and Amari Young both earned all-conference second team nods, and Young and Ajah Wayne were named second team all-state by VaSID.
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 points, 3.4 boards, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. With CMC and the University of Arkansas Monticello, he earned Newcomer of the Year accolades in both leagues.
The 2022-23 season saw the Monarchs reach the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship, finishing 22-12 overall and 12-6 in league play. ODU landed on the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll four times as the Monarchs owned the best home record in the Sun Belt at 13-2 (.867). Amari Young represented ODU on the All-Sun Belt Second Team as well as on the All-Tournament Team.
In 2021-22, the Monarchs finished 24-10 overall and 12-6 in Conference USA. The Monarchs recorded a pair of Power 5 wins (Auburn and Texas Tech) and also defeated eventual C-USA Tournament champions Charlotte on the road. Iggy Allen and Ajah Wayne were named to the first team All-Conference USA team as the Monarchs advanced to the second round of the WNIT.
Jones was on staff in 2020-21 as the Monarchs went 13-11 overall and reached the semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament as the No. 6 seed. ODU was 7-2 in its final nine games of the season, and scored a road upset over eventual C-USA Tournament champs Middle Tennessee. Victoria Morris and Amari Young both earned all-conference second team nods, and Young and Ajah Wayne were named second team all-state by VaSID.
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 points, 3.4 boards, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. With CMC and the University of Arkansas Monticello, he earned Newcomer of the Year accolades in both leagues.