Coach Chad Jones begins his ninth season as the Loggers Head Women’s Basketball Coach. In his first season in 2018-19, the Loggers set a school record with 27 wins. The Loggers finished the season ranked #5 in the NJCAA national rankings. In the second season with Jones at the helm, the Loggers matched their previous season’s win total with another 27-win campaign. In his second season, the Loggers climbed to as high as #2 in the national rankings. In a covid shortened third season the Loggers finished the year ranked #14 in the nation. The Loggers again broke the school record in the 21-22 season, going 28-5 and winning the school’s first MWAC Conference title. In the 23-24 season, the Loggers again matched the school record of 28 wins. In this campaign the Loggers captured the NJCAA Region 24 crown, the Central District championship, and made an elite eight appearance at the national championships. The 24-25 team, once again, set a school record with 34 wins. This team won the MWAC championship, Region 24 championship, and placed 5th at the NJCAA National Championships. The 25-26 season again saw the Loggers advance to the national championships and finished with a 28-6 record.
Before becoming Lincoln Lands women’s coach, Jones spent the previous 17 seasons leading the Lincoln Land men’s program. Under the direction of Coach Jones, the Loggers men recorded the school’s first ever back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2004-2006, with the 2004-2005 campaign equaling the school record of 22 wins. In the 2011-12 season Coach Jones guided the Loggers to their first ever appearance in the NJCAA Region 24 title game. In 2016 Coach Jones became the school’s all-time leader in men’s coaching victories and finished his men’s career with 243 victories at Lincoln Land. Coach Jones is currently the all-time wins leader for the women’s program as well.
Jones was named the MWAC coach of the year in 2022 and 2025. He was the 2022 NJCAA Region 24 coach in 2022. In the 2024 and 2025 seasons he was selected as the NJCAA Central District coach of the year. He was selected as the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association coach of the year in the 24-24, 24-25, and 25-26 seasons. Jones is a 2026 inductee to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Chad is a 1993 graduate of Canton High School. He played Junior College basketball at nationally ranked Danville Area Community College. He then took his play to NCAA Division 1 Western Illinois University. Jones is married to Nichole (Mann) and they have one son, Josh.
