University of South Florida Director of Athletics Doug Woolard and Associate Director of Athletics for Academics Amy Haworth announced the hiring of Curtis Jones to the position of Assistant Athletics Director for Football Student-Athlete Development on June 5.
"Curtis will be a tremendous new addition and asset to our academic support staff,” said Haworth. “We were able to attract an individual with day-to-day advising and interpersonal experience from another BCS football program. We expect his biggest impact to be in our long term planning for the APR and other major academic goals. Annual success and graduating student athletes is a overriding goal of our department and Curtis' inclusion will increase the level of service we provide USF student-athletes."
Jones directs the entire academic program for football as well as CHAMPS/LifeSkills and graduation initiatives. He also works with the USF football players and coaching staff on a day-to-day basis throughout the year.
“I feel extremely excited and blessed to join the academic support staff in the University of South Florida Department of Athletics,” said Jones. “ I look forward to contributing to the growth and development of the football student-athletes at USF, and the progress of the athletic department as a whole. It is truly special when an athletic program of USF’s stature can achieve so much, and yet maintain an atmosphere of humility, appreciation and hunger for continued success. The cultivation of such an environment is a testament to the leadership of Doug Woolard and his exceptional management team, and my wife and I could not be happier that we are now a part of this USF family.”
Jones worked with the Oklahoma football team this past season. The Sooners had eight players named to the Academic All-Big 12 team this season, including key contributors Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray, and posted a solid APR score of 942.
Jones also has advised the Oklahoma baseball team in its academic endeavors for the past three seasons. That Sooner squad has placed nine athletes on the conference academic team during the 2006 and 2007 campaigns, including 2007 Academic All-American of the Year Aaron Ivey.
A four-year letterman in baseball at Darmouth, he was responsible for enrolling the student-athletes in classes, advising them on majors and careers, setting up tutors and making sure they meet the NCAA eligibility standards during his time in Norman, Okla. In addition to baseball, he also oversaw the academic careers of the softball, women’s golf and women’s soccer teams during his tenure.
Jones obtained his master’s degree in journalism (advertising-copywriting) in the spring of 1998 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Dartmouth College where he graduated in 1995.
USF head coach Jim Leavitt and Jones already have a unique connection. Jones’ father, Curtis Sr. was a coach on the Missouri football coaching staff when Leavitt was a member of the Tiger squad from 1974-77.
The St. Louis, Mo., native is a member of the NAAAA (National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics) and married the former Mary Ellen Enigk in December 2007. The couple will move to Tampa in June.
