Coach Ivan Jones

Coach Ivan Jones, 94, of Foley, Alabama, passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. He was born March 10, 1926 in rural Clarke County, Alabama and grew up near Jackson, Alabama. He was drafted into the Navy before finishing high school and served in the war in the Pacific from 1944 until the Japanese surrendered in 1945. After his discharge, from the Navy in 1946, he returned to Jackson and graduated from high school. He attended Troy University and was a standout football player for the school until a severe bus accident ended his football career. He graduated from Troy in 1951 and later earned his Master’s degree from the University of Alabama. He took over the football program at Foley as head coach in 1955. Over the next 14 years, he turned Foley into one of the most dominant and winning programs in the state. His 1961 and 1962 football teams were undefeated and were voted state champions before the inception of the current playoff system. His teams had a 23 game winning streak from 1960-1962 and a 47-3 record from 1960-1964. His teams won 9 county championships and never had a losing season in 14 years. He was a smart and savvy coach, but his greatest skill was his ability to relate to his players and build them up to play to a level far above their God given talents. He coached many great athletes who went on to star at various SEC schools, play in the Senior Bowl and receive Pro contracts. One of whom went on to star in the NFL, win a Super Bowl and make it all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and Kenny Stabler shared a special bond which would last throughout their lives. He retired as head coach after the 1968 season and served as a principal at Foley for the next 20 years. He was loved by his players, students and school staff his entire career. After retiring, he became an avid and talented golfer, playing regularly until his late eighties and once shot a round of 78 at age 81. Coach Jones loved Foley and for over 60 years gave back to the school and community. For decades, he volunteered coaching summer league baseball, taught swimming lessons and was a volunteer middle school football coach until his late eighties. He was a positive influence on local youth for three generations. He was a charter member of the Foley High School and Baldwin County Athletic Halls of Fame. He served as a coach in the state All-Star game, was selected Coach of the Year in the state and served as president of the Alabama Coaches Association. He represented Alabama at the National Coaches convention in Las Vegas in the late 1960s. In 1994, he was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. In 2004, the Foley football stadium was named the Ivan Jones Stadium in his honor. In 2005, he received the L’ Arche Mobile Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015, he received the Alabama Football Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Coach Jones is survived by his wife of 58 years, Julia Bristow Jones; sons, Julian Darrell Jones (Lee Ann), John Byron Jones; sister, Jean Coleman; step-granddaughter, Katie; step-great-granddaughters, Georgia Ann and Ellie; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henley B. Jones, Sr. and Alma Bumpers Jones of Jackson, Alabama; brothers, H.B. Jones, Jr., Ray Jones, Troy Jones and Billy Jones; sisters, Lennie Jones and Dot Jones Guy. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Monday, February 8, 2021 at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Foley. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Ivan Jones Stadium, Foley. Active pallbearers will be Barry Jones, Joel Coleman, Daniel Garner, Charlie Wheaton, Mike McConnell and Wayne Dyess. Honorary pallbearers will be all of the former Foley athletes that played for Coach Jones. For those that are not able to attend services, the funeral will be aired and streamed live on WHEP radio and the WHEP App. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the “Ivan Jones Scholarship” in care of the South Baldwin Education Foundation: PO Box 1600, Foley, Alabama 36535.