Bill Text: VA HR655 | 2024 | 1st Special Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Commending Robert Jones.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-05-13 - Bill text as passed House (HR655ER) [HR655 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HR655-Prefiled.html
WHEREAS, in 2024, Robert Jones, head coach of the Norfolk State University men's basketball team, was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the BOXTOROW HBCU Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Robert Jones is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he was a four-time letter winner on the basketball team; he began his coaching career at the high school and Division III college levels, including a two-year stint at his alma mater; and
WHEREAS, Robert Jones joined the Norfolk State University (NSU) men's basketball team as an assistant coach in 2007 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2012; he was selected as interim head coach in 2013 and officially named head coach during his first year at the helm; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Robert Jones, the NSU Spartans have set numerous Division I program records, including best scoring margin, best three-point field goal percentage, fewest losses, and more; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, Robert Jones has coached two dozen All- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) honorees and led the NSU Spartans to three MEAC regular season titles, two MEAC Tournament championship titles, and a National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament First Four victory; and
WHEREAS, with a winning percentage of .743, Robert Jones ranks fifth in the nation with at least 100 games played, and he was previously selected as MEAC Coach of the Year for the 2018–2019 and 2021–2022 seasons; and
WHEREAS, during the 2023–2024 season, Robert Jones led the NSU Spartans to an 11–3 conference record and a 21–10 overall record; the team was ranked first in the conference in steals, turnover margin, scoring defense, allowing only 67.7 points per game, and opponent field goal percentage, holding opposing teams to an average of 40.8 shooting percentage; and
WHEREAS, in addition to winning the MEAC regular season title, Robert Jones and the NSU Spartans finished their 2023–2024 season on a high note, defeating the Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons by a score of 75–67 at the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in March 2024; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Robert Jones hereby be commended on his selection as the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the BOXTOROW HBCU Coach of the Year; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robert Jones as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his achievements as a coach and contributions to the Norfolk State University community.
