GRAND FORKS, N.D. - In an easygoing manner, Brian Jones stated his case Wednesday to be the next head men's basketball coach at the University of North Dakota.
"This is a chance for me to fulfill a dream of mine," Jones said to about 20 people at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. "And that's to run my own program."
From Rock Island, Ill., Jones was the second of three candidates to interview for the position. Winona State associate head coach Tom Brown will interview today.
UND athletic director Tom Buning said a new coach could be named as early as Friday.
The director of basketball operations at Iowa, Jones has helped the Hawkeyes to six winning seasons and a pair of Big Ten titles in seven years.
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An assistant for the last 10 years, Jones said he learned how to be a head coach from Iowa head coach Steve Alford. Jones was Alford's assistant at Missouri State for one season before following him to Iowa.
"I've always been competitive," Jones said. "But he's as competitive as they come. He's a great guy to work for because he does a great job giving us input and a lot of duties. I've done everything a head coach has to do, except call all the timeouts.
"He's been a great mentor to me."
After five years as a bench coach, Jones was reassigned after last season to basketball operations, usually an administrative position.
Jones said the move was not a demotion and he will perform the same coaching duties he previously handled.
"It was an opportunity for the coach to get some freshness into the coaching staff," Smith said. "My boss let go of two guys, so I think it says a lot about what he thinks of me as a coach."
Previously a coach at Nebraska-Omaha, Jones recruited the core group of a team that advanced to the Division II national tournament in 2001.
If offered the job, Jones said he will build the Sioux through a mix of Division I transfers and four-year recruits.
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UND guard Dan Harkins was impressed with Jones' demeanor.
"I like the fact he seems laid back," Harkins said. "When he met with the players, he came down on our level and talked to us."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
