Jones takes pro coaching job

Sault Ste. Marie product Bob Jones is moving on to pro hockey.

A former defenceman with the Soo Greyhounds, who also served as an assistant coach with the organization from 1995 to 1999, Jones had been hired by the NHL’s Dallas Stars to serve as an assistant coach with their American League affiliate, the Texas Stars.

Jones is coming off three seasons as head coach of the Ontario League’s Oshawa Generals. He missed the 2017-18 season due to health issues that were life-threatening.

In three seasons with the Generals, Jones had a record of 103-85-16. Jones and the team agreed to mutually part ways in late April.

Jones’ OHL coaching career also saw him spend eight seasons with the Windsor Spitfires, where he won a pair of OHL titles. With Windsor, Jones was an associate coach for seven seasons and served as head coach for one season.

In addition to his time as an assistant in Sault Ste. Marie, Jones also served in the same role with the Sudbury Wolves and Brampton Battalion. He also spent time with the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors as an associate coach.

Jones will join a staff with Texas that includes Coach Derek Laxdal and a team that advanced to the Calder Cup final before losing to the Toronto Marlies.

“Bob has been very successful in junior hockey for two decades and we are pleased to welcome him to the Dallas Stars organization,” Stars Assistant General Manager Scott White said in a prepared statement. “He has over 21 seasons of coaching experience and his wealth of knowledge and ability to develop young players will be a tremendous asset to our organization.”

It’s been a summer of advancement for some OHL coaches.

In addition to the staff of the Soo Greyhounds making the jump to the AHL as Coach Drew Bannister and Assistant Coach Ryan Ward joined the San Antonio Rampage and Joe Cirella joining the Stockton Heat, the Kingston Frontenacs will be on the lookout for a new coach as Jay Varady has been named the coach of the Tucson Roadrunners.