Family first

Tommy Jones has patrolled the Ville Platte High boys’ basketball sideline for the past eight seasons. However, his patrolling days for the Bulldog program is now over as he has announced his retirement from the coaching profession.
The decision to step down was a difficult one for the Ville Platte High graduate, but the reason for leaving is most definitely a legitimate one.
“I had been going back and forth with decision to stop coaching,” stated Jones. “But I have two sons that are playing on the collegiate level and I just wanted the opportunity to see them perform. There was no way that I was going to be able to do that if I continued coaching. Ultimately, it was the need to support them that led to me walking away from coaching.”
Even though Jones was able to coach both of his sons, Tyran and Tyler, throughout their high school career, the thought of not being able to watch them fulfill their dreams stayed on his mind. In fact, last season Jones was limited on how much he could watch Tyran play basketball at LSU-E.
He did not want that to happen again this season and he did not want to miss out on Tyler’s football career at Southern- Shreveport.
“I felt bad about not having as many chances to see Tyran play,” Jones said. “This being his last year at LSU-E, I knew I could not miss his last year on the Junior College level and I wanted to make sure I was also there for Tyler.”
Jones’ introduction into the world of basketball came when he was about four or five-years old. It was then that Jones and a one of his childhood friends, Alvin Edwards, would play the game on a goal at the Edward’s house. Jones began to love the game so much, his grandfather, “Curley” Dossman put up a goal at his home just so Jones could get more time practicing.
In the next few years, because Ville Platte did not have a basketball youth league, Jones played for Bayou Chicot in the Louisiana Youth Basketball Association. Once Jones reached fifth grade, he joined the basketball team at James Stephens Elementary and played there for two years while still playing in the LYBA.
In seventh grade, Jones entered Ville Platte High school and made the junior high basketball team. For the next two seasons, Jones performed under Coach Lionel Anderson.
“When I got into junior high, it got a lot tougher,” commented Jones. “Mrs. Regina O’Connor was my coach at James Stephens and she was always very nice to us. But, in junior high, Coach Anderson was a whole lot tougher on us. Still, I enjoyed playing for him. Those two years in junior high were some of the best years playing basketball.”
Jones moved up to high school and as a freshman he was able to get into some games. One of the highlights of his freshman year was the ability to lead the team in scoring during a playoff game.
After starting a number of games his sophomore season, Jones transferred to Southern Lab in Baton Rouge as a junior. However, Jones was ineligible due to zoning issues.
Even though Jones was unable to officially play at Southern Lab, he still practiced with the team and took part in team activities.
“My grandfather and the head coach at the time, Joel Hawkins, were good friends,” stated Jones. “So, Coach Hawkins kind of took me in and allowed me to be an unofficial part of the program. My grandfather always told me to stay around Coach Hawkins because of the amount of knowledge he had. I can say that he was one of the big influences in my coaching career.”
Jones relocated back to Ville Platte for his senior season and finish out his high school career.
After graduation, Jones headed to Southern University for his bachelor’s degree in education. Upon completing that degree, Jones got a job teaching physical education and reading at Lanier Elementary in Baton Rouge while working on his master’s degree.
During that time, a good friend of Jones’, Donnell Hyde, invited him to attend some of his basketball practices at Belaire High School. Hyde kept encouraging Jones to get into the coaching profession and planted the seed to what would become an amazing career.
With his master’s degree in hand, Jones made his way back to Ville Platte and joined the staff at his alma mater. Three years later, Jones was presented with the opportunity to take over the basketball program when Anderson retired.
“When I first took over, Donnell gave me everything he had, from practice plans to videos to drills,” said Jones. “He was influential for me in my coaching career.”
“That first year I took over, we had a really good team,” Jones continued. “We started off 8-0 and I was thinking coaching wasn’t that hard. Then we took some big butt whippings from Northwest and Northside and I began to realize coaching was a lot more challenging.”
No matter how challenging Jones thought coaching was, he still was able to maintain a program that ranked as one of the top programs around the state. In his career, Jones compiled an overall record of 162-80.
On top of that, under Jones’ helm, the Bulldogs took home three district championships, three district runner-up titles and seven parish championship trophies. Ville Platte High also appeared in the playoffs eight times, including a state semi-final and three quarter-finals. The Bulldogs won 20 or more games on four different occasions.
No matter the numbers Ville Platte High has accumulated under Jones, the erstwhile leader of the Bulldogs does not consider those records and accomplishments the most rewarding part of his career.
“I think being just a small part of the players’ lives and having the ability to help mold them into adults has been extremely satisfying as a coach,” commented Jones. “I tried to give them some experiences outside of basketball, hoping that they will get an understanding of what life is about. Just seeing the players bond with each other and leave here with a sense of ownership in what they do outside of basketball and school has been my biggest reward.”
Jones also knows that his success has not been without great people supporting him and the program. For that, he is extremely grateful.
“I have been so fortunate to have great support from a number of different people,” stated Jones. “Without them I could not have accomplished the things I have been able to accomplish. My grandfather was a huge part of my success, as well as my grandmother, my kids and my finance. My assistant coaches through the years, Coach Launey Coward, Coach Ervin Wilson, Coach Babineaux, Coach Bryant Wilson, and Coach Floyd Prescott, were all a huge part of why this program has been able to be one of the best around.”
“I want to also thank Mrs. Kelly Lafleur for believing in me enough to give me the chance to become the head coach,” Jones continued. “Coach Dot Doulet was someone that was always there for me if I needed. Without all of the people that helped work the games, including my statisticians, clock operators and the persons behind the scenes, I could not have concentrated on just being a coach. I just thank God every day that I was able to be the Ville Platte High coach.”