Back with the Bearcats: Rock Hill High great Tim Jones coaching at his alma mater
Rock Hill girls’ basketball coach Kenny Orr was standing on the sidelines Friday morning as the Bearcat football team officially practiced for the first time this season. He was watching first-year linebackers coach Tim Jones stride around the field, remembering their encounters many years ago in Gray-Y football.
Whenever Orr tackled Jones - who played quarterback for the Bellview Raiders - the future Clemson Tiger would always hop up and remind Orr that he played defense too. Retribution was coming.
On the cover of a 1994 Clemson football program, Jones - a two-time All-ACC pick that led the Tigers in tackles three straight seasons - is pictured ripping away from the grip of a South Carolina offensive lineman. It reads: “Clemson’s irrepressible Tim Jones.”
There’s only one high school in Rock Hill to me, and that’s the Bearcats.
Former Rock Hill High football standout Tim Jones
That’s why Rock Hill High and its football program needs Tim Jones now, even if he’s a little creakier and confined to the sidelines. The former Bearcat and Clemson standout has switched careers after 20 years in banking and is working with and mentoring in-school suspended students, while coaching the school’s linebackers.
“It gives me an opportunity to give back,” Jones said after practice Friday, clearly in his element.
“Coaches and teachers don’t always get paid what they deserve but when you’re in this profession it’s not about money,” said Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman. “It’s about investing in these kids and that’s what Tim’s all about. He wants not only each individual kid out there to be great, but he wants Rock Hill High to be great.”
Jones became a defensive player in high school because he didn’t enjoy taking hits. He didn’t mind dishing them out, though, and quickly became a standout player for Jim Ringer’s program.
Rock Hill was 34-16 in the four years Jones played for the Bearcats; they were 13-1 in 1989, the only loss coming to eventual state champs Northwestern in the Upper State championship game. The Bearcats won the Region 2-4A title that year and Jones - nicknamed “The Hitman” for his punishing tackles - played in the Shrine Bowl.
This group of Rock Hill players have had a much different experience; last season’s two wins were the fewest since the 1977 season.
Jones, who had his Rock Hill High jersey retired by the booster club back in March, knows one element that would impact the Bearcats’ on-field results: leadership from the kids.
“Coaches, we can only lead so much,” he said. “The kids have more influence on each other than we have. Just sharing with the kids my experience, that even though I’m a sophomore or a freshman, I can hold an upperclassman accountable too. Supporting them in a positive way.”
Jones’ arrival is timely for the Bearcat linebackers, who lost Donavon Perryman (Furman) and Khari Hunter (Newberry) to graduation, and college football.
“We’ve got a lot of kids that are willing to work hard and be coached, which is great for me, being able to share my experience and enhance their ability that they already have,” said Jones, a member of the York County Sports Hall of Fame. “Hopefully, we can put them in the right place to be successful and it works for us in the “W” column.”
Senior Jamaal Smith, a New Jersey native who moved to the area a couple of years ago, should be one that Jones can count on. He and the others have taken well to the new position coach’s style and expertise.
“He knows a lot,” said Smith. “And what’s he teaching us is different from the other coaches. There’s some familiar things but it’s from his perception, what he’s done from Clemson. It’s gonna make us a better team.”
When we started this process, Tim said, ‘coach, I just want to be a ninth grade coach. I want to learn, I want to take the time,’ but we figured out really quick that we had to get him on varsity. He just brings so much to the table, on the field and off the field.
Rock Hill coach Bubba Pittman
Jones began mentoring while working with Wells Fargo and he found plenty of opportunities helping his wife, Jackie, the principal at The Children’s School in Rock Hill. Last year’s linebackers coach, Dave Thomas, took a track and field-focused job at Spring Valley, opening up a spot for Jones to join the staff.
“He’s having so much fun,” said Pittman. “He brings so much passion to that side of the ball. There were a couple of times I thought he was gonna run out there and make a tackle. He’s just so energetic and passionate about what he does.”
This story was originally published July 31, 2016 at 12:19 PM with the headline "Back with the Bearcats: Rock Hill High great Tim Jones coaching at his alma mater."