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On Monday night, the Troy City Schools Board of Education unanimous approved the hiring of Phillip Jones as the new head football coach at Charles Henderson High School.

Jones has been an assistant football coach at CHHS for 21 years, serving on the staffs of four different head coaches and coaching on two different teams that finished state runner-up. Jones has also served as track and field coach at CHHS.

“I’m very excited,” Jones said with a smile. “I’m eager to get started and we’ve already been working hard so far (in the offseason). We just want to continue the process and go from there. We have to hire some more people to come in and help out but the coaching staff in place right now will continue working hard.”

Jones is a Brewton native that earned All-State honors as a running back at WS Neal in both 1993 and 1995. He went on to graduate from Troy University, where he played football for head coach Larry Blakeney. Legendary Trojan Mike Turk was also his position coach.

Jones earned All-Conference honors in 1998 and 1999. He rushed for 539 yards and four touchdowns in 1998, while tallying 729 yards and six scores and throwing another touchdown pass in 1999 as a senior.

Jones started his coaching career at Charles Henderson upon graduation and has spent the past 21 years at the school, serving as both running backs and wide receivers coach during that time.

“We had an excellent group of people interested in the position,” CHHS Principal Lise Fayson said. “The way that (Jones) stood out from everyone was his commitment to the kids for the last 21 years. He was a part of two state championship runs, is a man of integrity and I’m very excited for the Phillip Jones Era of Charles Henderson Football.”

Troy City Schools Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Thomas echoed Fayson’s statement about Jones being a man of integrity.

“I feel that this man can get the job done,” Thomas said. “He comes with integrity, he comes with relationships already established with the team members and coaching staff. I am elated about this choice for our head football coach.”

Jones said that his first step as head coach would be to get some new players to come out for football.

“I have to beat the hallways,” he emphasized. “We need some more kids to come out and play. I tell the kids during workouts, bring a friend. Convince a friend to come because we’re going to need some help. We’re going to have a lot of kids graduate from this team, so I’m going to be beating the hallways.”

Jones said that he’s focused on making sure his Trojans are having fun while playing, too.

“We’re going to play fast, be sound on offense and defense and most importantly, we’re going to have fun,” he said. “Let’s have fun and be explosive and play sound and disciplined football and hold each other accountable, on and off the field.”

Jones is also focused on making sure his athletes are ready for life outside of football.

“My goal is for us to play disciplined and sound and get after it,” he continued. “We’re going to have fun and get kids into college and have them prepared for everyday life. I want them to be ready beyond high school. Not everyone is going to be meant to go to college, so for those students, maybe they need to be able to get a trade. You have to be able to live past football.”