Years In Coaching: 7th
Years at USF: 1st
Alma Mater: UT Martin, ‘16 – Bachelor’s in health and human performance
Hometown: Florissant, Mo.
NOTABLE:
• Spent two seasons working with the New England Patriots defensive line
• Played two seasons in the Indoor Football League - earning first-team All-IFL
• Standout defensive lineman at UT Martin, earning All-Ohio Valley Conference honors
Keith Jones was named defensive line coach on Brian Hartline’s first USF staff in January of 2026.
A former standout defensive lineman at UT Martin, he came to Tampa after one season at Appalachian State and two with the New England Patriots.
BEFORE SOUTH FLORIDA
APPALACHIAN STATE: Jones arrived in Boone after spending the last two seasons as a member of the New England Patriots' coaching staff.
He coached the defensive line in the 2025 season, which the Mountaineers opened with a victory over Charlotte and also claimed victories over Oregon State, Georgia State and Marshall before falling in the Birmingham Bowl. He guided defensive lineman Kevin Abrams-Verwayne and Rondo Parker to All-Sun Belt recognition. Abrams-Verwayne led App State in sacks (five) and forced fumbles (four) while ranking third on the team in TFLs (6.5) from his edge position.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Jones assisted with coaching the Patriots' defensive line for two seasons (2023-24). Jones earned his first opportunity with the Patriots while working the 2022 training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship.
EARLY COACHING CAREER: Jones worked assisting the defensive line groups in graduate assistant roles at Arkansas (2022) and Arkansas State (2021). Following an award-winning playing career in college and the Indoor Football League, Jones got his coaching start overseeing the defensive tackles at Missouri Southern State University in 2020.
PLAYING CAREER (UT Martin/IFL)
Jones was a standout defensive lineman at UT Martin, where he was a second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection as a senior by recording a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He started 36 of his final 41 games with the Skyhawks.
After graduating from UT Martin, he went on to star in the Indoor Football League. He was named first-team All-IFL and won a league title while playing for the Iowa Barnstormers in 2018. He spent the 2019 season with the Tucson Sugar Skulls.
Jones was a three-sport prep standout at McCleur North High School, where he competed in football, basketball and track and field.
PERSONAL
A native of Florissant, Mo., just outside of St. Louis, Jones graduated from UT Martin with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance in 2016.
COACHING CAREER
2026 South Florida Defensive Line
2025 Appalachian State Defensive Line
2023-24 New England Patriots Defensive Assistant
2022 Arkansas Graduate Assistant – Defensive Line
2021 Arkansas State Graduate Assistant – Defensive Line
2020 Missouri Southern Defensive Tackles
