Legendary Jerry Jones dies at 89, fans in shock mourn his death

Jones was the assistant to celebrated head coach Denny Crum.

Legendary Jerry Jones dies at 89, fans in shock mourn his death

Fromer Louisville Cardinals Basketball Assistant Head Coach Jerry Jones speaking at ex-Cardinals head coach Denny Crum's funeral (Screengrab YouTube)

University of Louisville men’s basketball assistant head coach Jerry Jones passed away on Monday, January 8. He was the right-hand man of celebrated head coach Denny Crum.

The dynamic duo were at the helm of Louisville basketball for more than two decades. Jones joined the program in 1973, a year after Crum, and was part of the team until 1996. After that, he stayed on as part of Crum’s staff until 2001.

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Many locals will vouch that Jones’ tenure with the team can be considered a golden age. During his stint with the Cardinals, they reached the final four times, twice reaching the National Championships (1980 and 1986).

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While being part of the university, Jones also worked as an assistant for the 1987 USA Pan American Games team. Later, he even served as chairman of the Assistant Basketball Coaches Committee of the NABC.

Last year, on May 9, Denny Crum passed away. During his eulogy, Jones said he did not work for Crum but rather worked with him.

I never worked for Denny Crum; I worked with Denny Crum, and I’ll always remember that and be appreciative of what he did for me. He was a friend; he was a best friend.
Jones said, as per WHAS 11

Almost a year later, Jerry Jones has passed away. He was 89 years old. The University of Louisville shared on X (formerly Twitter). Many fans offered their condolences.

Denny Crum and Jerry Jones had a great partnership

Last year, in November, Jerry Jones’ daughter, Sherry Jones, shared on X that her father had entered hospice care. During his final weeks, several of his former players and colleagues came to visit him.

Even before Denny Crum and Jerry Jones started working together in Louisville, they were well acquainted with each other. While working as an assistant on John Wooden’s staff at UCLA, Crum became friends with Jones, who was a speaker at the coaching clinic.

Legendary Jerry Jones dies at 89, fans in shock mourn his death
Jerry Jones (Screengrab YouTube)

In a 2011 interview with The Courier-Journal, Crum said,

He's [Jerry Jones] just one of those guys who was meant to be a coach. He understands the game, has a great rapport with the kids, [and is] good around people. You knew he would do a great job.

Jones was inducted into the University of Louisville Hall of Fame in 1998. He may not be with his favorite people anymore, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone through his years of contributions to the growth of basketball.

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