Mr. Jones' commitment to the sport started at Iowa Falls High School where he was a two-time state qualifier with runner-up and third place finishes. He wrestled at Iowa State where he was a two-time NCAA All-American and place winner (fourth in 1963 and fifth in 1965). He went on to a highly successful coaching career, starting the St. Edmond, Fort Dodge program in 1966 and then serving as an assistant under David Harty at Eagle Grove, 1967-1970. He then served three seasons each as the head coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. From 1974 through his retirement in 1990 he was the head coach at his high school a h a mater, where his teams won seven North Central Conference titles and his wrestlers won a total of 176 tournament titles. He developed 42 state qualifiers with 15 becoming place winners, including two champions. In 1983 he was named Class 2A State Coach-of-the-Year and in 1992 was honored with induction into the Iowa High School Athletic Association's Wrestling Hall of Fame.