NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State men's basketball coach Robert Jones recently reached a special milestone. This past weekend, his Spartans came from behind on Saturday to beat Howard on the road 65-61. The win gave the 44 year old his 200th career win as a head coach.
"It still sounds a little surreal", he said as NSU improved to 12-8 and 2-1 in the MEAC. There was also some irony with the win. He got his 100th win at Howard as well.
"You have to be around to get 200 wins", he reflected. "Just be around for the amount of games and to be able to coach at Norfolk State even to get 200 wins has been tremendous."
Its been an interesting journey for Jones from his days in Jamaica, New York. He acutally had a backup plan in case basketball didn't work out.
"When I was in college I used to always say I wanted to be in entertainment or do sports", he said. "At one point, I did both when I was working with 50 Cent."
You heard right. While Jones was working as a coach, he used to book tour shows for the Curtis Jackson (AKA: 50 Cent). Did he have any second thoughts on choosing hoops?
"I don't think anybody would want me, because not really doing any music anymore", he joked. "So now he wouldn't need anyway."
Jones and his Spartans head back to the court when they host Coppin State at Joe Echols Hall on Saturday at 4pm.