Coaching legend dies Former Grainger, Kinston High School coach Paul Jones succumbs to lung disease April 16, 2009 - 9:49 PM Bryan C. Hanks Managing Editor Paul Jones, one of the greatest high school basketball coaches in the history of the state, passed away Thursday morning at his son's home in Fayetteville. He was 76. Jones' basketball teams at Grainger High School and Kinston High School were 662-274 in 38 years. His Red Devil and Viking squads won 18 conference championships, two North Carolina High School Athletic Association titles in 1964 and 1965 and four runners-up finishes. Forty-two of Jones' players went on to play college basketball, while three - Jerry Stackhouse, Cedric Maxwell and Charles Shackleford - played in the National Basketball Association. "Paul Jones was one of the finest basketball coaches the state of North Carolina has ever produced," NCHSAA Executive Director Charlie Adams said. "But more importantly, he was a gentleman, a wonderful person and a long-time friend." NCHSAA Associate Executive Director Rick Strunk concurred with Adams, who inducted Jones into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 2000. "If you ask anyone from across the state to list the top all-time coaches in North Carolina, his name will pop up in the conversation," Strunk said. "History will reflect that he was one of the greatest coaches our state ever produced." Stackhouse, who is playing for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, said Jones' death impacts the whole state. "It's a big loss to our community and a big loss to high school basketball in general," Stackhouse said. "He meant a lot to the high school game in North Carolina." Like Stackhouse, Webb Tyndall not only played for Jones, he also played at the University of North Carolina for Dean Smith, who retired as the NCAA's all-time winningest coach (which, like Jones in the NCHSAA ranks, has since been surpassed). Tyndall, a corporate communications officer at the little bank, said Jones and Smith were similar in nature. "To be able to play for him and then go play for Coach Smith, it was a huge honor," Tyndall said. "They are both tremendous men." Jones took over the reins of an already-successful Red Devil basketball program in 1957 from Amos Sexton, who had led Grainger to state championships. But he also became the head baseball coach, taking over the program from Frank Mock. He led the Red Devils to a sterling 184-88 mark, including a state championship in 1968 and one state runner-up finish, along with six conference championships. His combined record as a basketball and baseball coach was 846-362. George Whitfield, one of the nation's all-time best prep and American Legion baseball coaches, got his start as an educator when he was a student teacher alongside Jones in 1958. He said what Jones accomplished was a great feat. "To come in and follow two legends, the way he did, it's not an easy thing to do," Whitfield said. "But Paul came in and did a wonderful job and continued their great work." In an era of coaches who could be loud and sometimes obnoxious, Jones' quiet and gentlemanly nature was the exception. He was admired by his players, opponents and referees alike. "He wasn't a shouter and he wasn't very loud, but he was one of the most competitive people I've ever been around," said Wilson County Schools Assistant Superintendent Craig Hill, who was an assistant coach for Jones for 13 years before becoming the KHS head coach. "He wanted to win and he enjoyed being successful. He understood that if you took care of the details and if you prepared the way you should before a contest, you'd be all right." Tommy Mattocks was one of Jones' first players at Grainger. After Mattocks became a renowned basketball official, he said he once asked Jones why he didn't get up and "scream and holler" like the other coaches. "He told me that he thought the best coaching was done in practice," Mattocks said. "He didn't need to get up and scream at his players. If he said something, you knew you needed to listen." When Jones' coaching contract was not renewed by the Lenoir County School Board in 1995, he left the game as the winningest prep basketball coach in North Carolina. He still is in the top five with his 662 wins. However, his love for the game didn't dissipate after leaving Kinston High School. He was the head coach at Greene Central for one season, then was an assistant to fellow coaching legend and good friend Bob Murphrey at Ayden-Grifton for several seasons. That led to a unique summer camp game at Winterville's South Central High School a few years ago when Murphrey wasn't on the sideline due to illness. Jones was sitting on the A-G bench, leading the Charger squad. "I looked down the sideline and it was kind of eerie seeing him sitting there for A-G," current KHS coach Wells Gulledge said. "It just didn't look right." Leo Hart - who went on to play football at Duke University and in the NFL - was a three-sport star at Grainger High School, including playing basketball and baseball for Jones. Hart said Jones was not just an esteemed coach, but a mentor, friend, big brother and second father. "He was special in my life and all of his player's lives," Hart said. "We will be forever grateful for his direction, his discipline and for the foundation of the beliefs and values that he installed in his players." Funeral arrangements, which are incomplete, for Jones are being handled by Edwards Funeral Home, located at 702 N. Queen St. Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at (252) 559-1074 or at bhanks@freedomenc.com. Check out Bryan's blog at http://bhanks.encblogs.com. Paul Jones' career -As a basketball coach: 662-274 in 38 years, including two state titles, four runners-up finishes and 18 league titles -As a baseball coach: 184-88 in 15 years, including one state title, one runner-up finish and six league titles In their own words... "Coach Jones was an icon - not just on the basketball court or baseball diamond, but as a man in the community." - Kinston High School basketball coach and athletics director Wells Gulledge "I was one of the many kids Coach Jones helped." - NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse "He was the ultimate gentleman. He loved kids and he enjoyed coaching; it was his whole life." - former player Titus Martin, whose son also suited up for Coach Jones "I almost thought he was super-human. When you watched his teams play, they always won, but they always won with class." - South Lenoir basketball coach and athletics director Jimmy Smith "He had a huge impact on Kinston. Like Dean Smith is a legend at Carolina, he was the legend in Kinston. He helped put Kinston on the map." - Kinston political activist Rita Spence "He was the kind of fellow that if you saw him in the grocery store, or were playing basketball for him, he was always the same kind of person." - 1964 Grainger graduate Herb Spear, who helped form the Lenoir Community College basketball team with Jones' help Jones, Paul Edward KINSTON - Paul Edward Jones, 76, of 2010 Carey Road, died Thursday April 16, 2009 at Carrol S. Roberson Hospice Center in Fayetteville, N.C., after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Paul was born in Thomasville, N.C. and graduated from Thomasville Senior High in 1950. He attended East Carolina University where he played basketball and baseball. He served two years in the SUAVE in Montgomery, Ala. Paul was married for almost 50 years to Betty W. Jones until her death in 2002. He loved and appreciated his family and gave generously to them. Paul, known to many as "Coach", was one of the most well-known and respected high school educators and coaches in N.C. He began his coaching career in Kinston in 1957. He advised many young people throughout his career and developed many life-long friendships. He was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 2000, The Kinston Lenoir County Charter Member Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and The ECU Educators Hall of Fame in 2008. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2009, at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston, followed by services at 2 p.m. Monday from Westminster United Methodist Church with Rev. Haywood Smith officiating. Visitation will follow immediately after in the Fellowship Hall. He is survived by a son, Paul L. Jones of Fayetteville, N.C.; daughters, Dr. Kim Jones of Hickory, N.C. and Trent J. Beam of Fayetteville, N.C.; a brother, Leon Jones of Mocksville, N.C., 6 grandchildren and 2 great grand-children. The family will receive friends Sunday from 1 p.m. until at the home at 2010 Carey Road, Kinston. Memorial contributions may be made to The Paul E. and Betty W. Jones Scholarship Fund c/o Paul L. Jones, P.O. Box 65339, Fayetteville, N.C. 28306. A memorial service will also be held on Saturday April 25, 2009 at Mock Gymnasium from 2-4 p.m. Arrangements are with Edwards Funeral Home. Sign the guest book at www.kinston.com. (Paid Obituary) Published in the Free Press from 4/17/2009 - 4/21/2009
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