Jones And The Mean Green Dancing After Coaching Accolades Arrive
Courtesy: University of North Texas
Release: 03/12/2010

DENTON, Texas - Along with his second trip to the NCAA Tournament, North Texas head coach Johnny Jones is receiving a host of national attention and awards as his team punched its ticket to the Big Dance.

Just today, the National Association of Basketball Coaches named Jones to their list of All-District coaches, making him one of just 25 coaches selected by their peers from around the country to the honor. Jones' name sits among such notables as Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Kansas State's Frank Martin and Matt Painter of Purdue.

Jones is also a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, given annually to the top minority coach in Division I college basketball. The ninth year North Texas head coach is one of just 15 finalists, and once again, Jones is listed among the games' greats; John Thompson III of Georgetown, Stan Heath of South Florida and Missouri's Mike Anderson.

North Texas is a consistent winner thanks to Jones, who has won 20 games or more in each of the last four seasons. This year, NT won its second Sun Belt title in four years and won a school record 24 games. The Mean Green landed four players on the All-Sun Belt squad, which is a school and conference record.

NT will find out its opponent for the upcoming NCAA Tournament at Sunday's CBS Selection Show at 5 p.m.