Coaches
Chance Jones

Chance Jones

Head Coach

​Chance Jones named Head Coach for the Men’s Basketball Team

Chance Jones will begin his second season as Spoon River College Head Men’s Basketball Coach. The Spoon River College Men’s Basketball team will look to build off its’ 20-21 inaugural season. Last year, the Snappers finished the season with a record of 16-8, and were MWAC conference co-champs. SRC also advanced to the region championship game. The Snappers had two athletes voted as all-region/all-conference players, one as Junior College All-American, and were nationally ranked for second half of the season.

“We have high expectations going into the 21-22 season. We return a large amount of key players, and have added some very talented student-athletes to go along with them. We’ve put together a tough schedule and I’m really looking forward to getting started with this group. We plan to continue to make our administration and alumni proud of our student-athletes on and off the court.

Jones previously served as the head boys’ basketball coach at Galva High School (2017-2019), where their record was 39-23 and included a regional final appearance. An earlier coaching run at Galva (2010-2013) ended with Lincoln Trail Conference Championships two years in a row and a 45-11 record.

Jones also served as head men’s basketball coach at Blackhawk East Community College (2014-2016), where his overall record was 50-34. During his last season there, the team finished as Arrowhead Conference Champions, Region 4 Championship Runners Up, with an overall 26-7 record, and ranked 14 in the national polls. The team boasted six academic all-conference award winners.

Other coaching stints were at AlWood High School as the head coach, Putman County High School Sophomore boys’ basketball coach and Wethersfield High School sophomore boys’ basketball coach.

Jones is a 1997 graduate of Abingdon High School, where he played basketball. He went on to play two years at Carl Sandburg College while earning his associate’s degree. Jones also has a Bachelor of Business Administration/Criminal Justice degree from North Central University. He resides in Galva Illinois with his wife Alyssa and their five children – Karstyn (12), Scheyer (10), Koby (7), Dylan (3), and Myles (1).

Kent Jones

Kent Jones

Assistant Coach

Kent Jones has been hired as Spoon River College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach.

Kent’s coaching experience started in 1999, when he was hired to coach Junior High Boys Basketball for Abingdon Junior High School. He was the 7th grade coach from 1999-2005, winning 2 regional titles. He was an assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach from 2005- 2011, assisting in winning 2 regional titles and a Sweet 16 appearance. Kent became the Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach for Abingdon High School in 2012. Kent complied a Varsity coaching record of 150-89, winning a regional championship in 2015, 7 regional final appearances, and 2019 Prairieland Conference champions. He was named IBCA district coach of the year in 2015, and was also named Galesburg Register Mail Coach of the Year in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Kent also coached baseball in Abingdon, where he was a part of 3 straight sweet 16 appearances and back to back Elite 8 runs.

SRC Head Coach Chance Jones commented, “I extremely excited to announce the hiring of Kent to our program. He brings a ton of coaching experience and success to the program, as well as playing experience at the college level. He’s done a phenomenal job at every position, and I believe our student athletes will benefit greatly from his leadership.”

Kent graduated from Abingdon High School in 1993. He then went on to play at Carl Sandburg Community College and earned an associate degree in science. He continued his playing career at Division II Limestone College in Gaffney, SC., playing for 2 years 1995-1997.

“I am excited to start a new journey with Spoon River Community College Men’s basketball program and to be coaching alongside Coach Chance Jones. I would like to thank Spoon River Community College President Oldfield, Athletic Director Bassett, hiring committee, and Coach Chance Jones for the opportunity to be a part of a new experience in my coaching career. I am honored and thrilled to be a part of the Spoon River Community College family. I am eager to get started and help make the Spoon River Men’s basketball program, players, and community a success. I have been coaching basketball and baseball in Abingdon for 23 years and can’t wait for this new challenge.”

Kent resides in Abingdon, Illinois with his wife Leslie Jones. They have 2 children Madison (22) Kaden Jones (18).

Drew Cotton

Drew Cotton

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Drew Cotton joins the SRC coaching staff with a strong resume of coaching experiences.  Cotton has coached with Jones for a total of five seasons at the NJCAA and high school levels, serving most recently as the Assistant Coach at Black Hawk College East Campus (2015-2016) and the Junior Varsity Coach at Galva High School (2018-2019).  Cotton is a 2004 Graduate of Kansas State University, earning his BS in Agricultural Economics and a 2009 Graduate of University of Florida earning a MS in Animal Science.

When asked about the upcoming season Cotton says, “I know there is a rich basketball tradition at Spoon River College. It is an exciting opportunity to be a part of restarting that tradition, under the guidance of Coach Jones the program will be an immediate success.  I am confident that we know what it takes to build a successful program that wins games and graduates strong student athletes.”