The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Ends
- Phone:
- 975-9536
John Jones enters his second season as UABβs Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Ends Coach in 2026.
Since returning to UAB in 2023, Jones has overseen one of the programβs most improved position groups on special teams while also taking on responsibilities with the defensive ends. In his first season coordinating special teams in 2024, UAB climbed 74 spots in the national special teams rankings to finish 35th overall. Under his direction, Jonah Delange earned American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honors, Patrick Foley posted the fourth-highest single-season punting average in school history, and Kam Shanks led the nation in punt return average, punt return yards and punt return touchdowns en route to All-America recognition.
Jones continued to guide a productive special teams unit in 2025. Delange converted all 29 PAT attempts and led the Blazers in scoring with 59 points, while Solomon Beebe earned Third Team All-Conference honors as a return specialist after averaging 26.1 yards per kickoff return and recording a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown. Foley added four punts of 50-plus yards and placed seven punts inside the 20-yard line.Jones also played a key role in the development of the defensive ends room. After assisting with the position group in 2024, he assumed full-time responsibilities prior to the 2025 season following the development of Desmond Little into a First Team All-Conference performer.
The 2026 season marks Jonesβ fourth year during his second stint with the Blazers. He previously served as a defensive graduate assistant in 2016 and 2017, helping lay the foundation for UABβs historic return to competition.
Following his first tenure at UAB, Jones served as Special Teams Coordinator at Thompson High School from 2018-21, helping guide the Warriors to three consecutive Alabama state championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Jones then joined former Blazer Jake Ganus at Moody High School in 2022 as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, helping lead the program to a school-record 10 victories and its first playoff appearance since 2004.
A native of Tarrant City, Ala., Jones earned his bachelorβs degree in Physical Education from Auburn University in 2012 and his masterβs degree in Physical Education from Auburn in 2013.
Jones and his wife, Sade, have three children, daughters Samantha and Remi, and son Gatlin.
