Bio

Deacon Jones was announced as the next head coach of the Pilot women's basketball program on June 30, 2026.

Jones steps into the role with more than 30 years of leadership experience and over two decades of coaching excellence across the collegiate, high school, and amateur levels. Widely respected as a defensive specialist and a proven program builder, Jones most recently served as the head women's basketball coach at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, where he led the team to a 20-10 overall record, a 17-5 mark in conference play, and an appearance in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals.

Beyond his X's and O's resume, Jones has spent decades using basketball as a platform for community impact and mentorship. Long before his rise through the college ranks, he established deep roots in Louisiana by founding Acadiana Lady Hoops and co-founding the Acadiana Hoops boys AAU program. Through these organizations, he mentored hundreds of young athletes, consistently prioritizing character development, academic accountability, and community leadership alongside success on the court.

Prior to his head coaching stint at Texas A&M-Texarkana, Jones spent 13 seasons on the staff at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, including a highly successful tenure as Associate Head Coach. During his time with the Ragin' Cajuns, he played a vital role in developing All-Conference talent while elevating the program to historic heights.

During his time on staff, Louisiana achieved four consecutive winning seasons from 2014–18—the first such stretch in program history. The Ragin' Cajuns also captured back-to-back Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) championships in 2015 and 2016, and secured the program's first-ever Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) appearance in 2021.

Before transitioning to the collegiate level, Jones orchestrated a dominant run at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette. Over four seasons, he guided the team to a stunning 120-13 record, highlighted by back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012.

Jones earned his Bachelor of Science in General Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.