OWATONNA, Minn. — After nine years as head coach for the North Central University men’s basketball team, Cedric Jones passed along news of his resignation as head coach after his team fell in the regional final to Pillsbury Baptist 91-86 in a triple-overtime dandy on Saturday, February 17. Jones was asked to say a few words after the men’s award ceremony directly following the game, and after giving Pillsbury their due respect and expressing pride in his own team, he continued by saying “I don’t want to, in any way, steal the thunder from Pillsbury’s win today, but…”

At that point, I knew what where it was going, but didn’t believe it was happening. Then he continued, as shell-shocked fans and players listened to his tear-muddled words, “This is especially difficult because today is my last game as coach at North Central.”

After spending more time than the average student spends with Jones because of my position with the newspaper, I can honestly say the decision makes sense to me because of the pressures coaching can bring, even though I didn’t expect it.

When he began coaching at North Central University, Jones’ children were three and one. Now Jasmine is 13 and Isaiah is 10. Basically, Coach Jones wasn’t willing to miss any more of his family’s life than he had to, and after prayerfully considering his options, he and his wife decided now was the time to take a break.

What better reason is there for hanging it up than that? It’s an admirable way to go, to be sure. So, instead of moping around, let’s rehash some of the top moments in his coaching career at North Central:

4) Coaching the national player of the year – A telling sign of a great coach is the way his team plays, and sometimes the way individuals develop their game in his/her system. Former North Central athlete Matt Zachery won player of the year honors in 2004-05 and was a favorite of Coach Jones’ during his four-year career as a Ram. Zachery averaged a double-double that year and schooled the opposition at nationals as well.

3) Beating Northwestern College – Long a whipping boy to cross-town rival Northwestern College, the Rams were finally able to get over the hump in 2004-05 with a 90-87 win on the Eagles’ home floor.

2) Beating Crown en route to his first national tournament berth – For this one, we have to reach back to 2002-03 when North Central dominated the North Central region and pounded bitter rival Crown College in Clark-Danielson gymnasium to clinch a spot at nationals in Oklahoma City at Mid-America Bible College.

1) Making it to the national championship in 2004-05 and falling seven points short of a title –If there was any time when I thought coach would retire, this was it. The senior-laden group of Zachery, Brandon Liebe, Dusty Berry, and then-newcomers Jeremy Watkins, Rick and CJ Johnson, Scott Forsberg along with Levi Myers were as intimidating a team as there was that year. Jones had a strong emotional tie to the players, and the team played with an excellence unrivaled in recent history. The team had the championship locked up with little time remaining, but couldn’t close it out.

Coach Jones didn’t call this a retirement – it’s a resignation – so there’s a chance he will coach again someday, but right now he said he’s going to “invest the skills and talents he has into his family for the time being.”

Of all the things Coach Jones and I talked about, I’ll remember he mentioned on numerous occasions that that coaching basketball was the least important part of the job. The things that mattered were the characteristics you implemented and developed in players, the relationships you built and the way you represented Christ on and off the court.

This decision, like it or not, is another testament to the precepts that he stands for. The impact that Jones made on his players, peers and me is profound, and it’s an understatement to say he’ll be missed.

OWATONNA, Minn. — The North Central Men’s basketball team suffered two losses on Saturday, February 17 – one a 91-86 triple-overtime thriller at the hands of Pillsbury Baptist – and the other their coach, Cedric Jones, to an unexpected resignation. Jones announced his stunning decision to end a nine-year stint as coach before a crowd of athletes, coaches and fans after the awards ceremony.

The team was unable to send coach Jones out with a win as Pillsbury senior center Tim Miller, who scored 35 points and pulled down 17 rebounds in the contest, led his team on a 10-0 run in the third overtime to send the top-seeded Rams home.

“You can practice, practice, practice, but I don’t think anyone is ready to play a triple-overtime game,” said junior guard Ryan Leak, who scored 11 points and dished four assists in the loss.

The Rams had an excellent chance to close it out in the second extra session, but Comet guard Jack Arneson hit a fadeaway 18-footer off the glass with two seconds remaining to keep his team alive.

In the first overtime, the teams traded scores and the Rams got the last possession, with senior guard Levi Myers barely missing a half-court heave that could have ended the game.

Devastating though, was the fact that the Rams looked to be in control and heading to Florida for the national tournament up 57-40 lead with 12:32 left in the game. But Pillsbury charged back, going on a 21-4 run over the next nine minutes to tie the game at 61.

“I knew we were going to be in a dogfight, but we changed our mindset late in the game and went from playing our style – attacking, up-tempo basketball,” said senior first-team all region guard CJ Johnson, who played his final game and averaged 23 points and hit eight three-point field goals in the tournament. “Every time we play them it’s been the storyline – we get up big and they fight back late in the game.”

North Central took a 44-33 lead into the halftime break after falling behind 5-0 in the first two minutes. The team went on a quick 14-0 run to take a nine-point lead with 15:30 left in the period, and didn’t trail until the first overtime.

Freshman center Chris Hickox scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds while Myers, who was named second team all-region, hit for 13 points and grabbed 11 boards in the game. Senior center Rick Johnson was awarded an honorable mention in the region for his defensive presence and timely shooting during the tournament.

Still, players seemed affected to a greater degree by Coach Jones’ decision to leave the team, likely because they were informed at the same time as those in attendance.

“Not having him here as a coach isn’t as a big a deal as not having him here at the school, period,” junior guard Jeremy Watkins said. “He was the man who developed me into the man I am today, and helped me to mature. The biggest loss, to me, is more of a friend than a coach.”

The Rams finished the season at 8-19 overall and 6-2 against teams in the North Central region, and return three starters from this year’s team – a sign that the 2007-08 team could once again challenge for the region title.