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Local son Jones shares insights at Douglas banquet

By Leo Martonosi
Sports Correspondent

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 1:01 PM EDT


(Photo provided)
Butch Jones shows off a clock he received as a gift for speaking at the Mens and Sons Sports Banquet in Douglas Thursday, July 5.

DOUGLAS—University of Cincinnati football coach Butch Jones had the audience at the edge of their seats throughout his speech at the Mens and Sons Sports Banquet at St. Peter’s Catholic Church Thursday, July 5.

“Butch hasn’t forgotten his roots,” said former Saugatuck boys’ basketball coach Russ Doane, who coached Jones in high school. “That’s just the kind of kid he is.”

That was evident when Jones mentioned he has a framed No. 7 blue-and-orange Saugatuck football jersey hanging in his Cincinnati office.

“It’s the number he wore for us in football,” said Jack Lampen, Jones’ prep football coach.

Lampen was not surprised that Jones returned to Saugatuck to recall fond childhood memories.

“He came back to run some football camps when he was coaching at Ferris (State University) and I believe at Central (Michigan University),” Lampen said. “It’s his way of giving back to the community.”

At least two other former Saugatuck athletes and assistant football coaches were on hand for the occasion. They were Don Berry and Mark Bekken, who introduced Jones.

“I’ve spoken what seems like thousands of times but I’m a little nervous,” Jones admitted.

It didn’t take him long to settle in and make the evening special for area fathers, sons and guests.

“Butch is just a down-to-earth good person,” Doane said.

Jones spoke from the heart in his 45-minute presentation, which included questions directed to his oldest son, Alex.

Alex, 15, said it wasn’t hard being the son of a NCAA Division I head coach.

“It’s not that bad,” Alex said. “I go to a small school. It’s actually pretty cool.”

Jones, who graduated from Saugatuck in 1985, admitted that he first thought about becoming a basketball coach, not a football coach growing up.

“You never know where God is going to lead you,” Jones said an hour before his speech.

Things couldn’t have worked out better for Jones, who was head football coach at Central Michigan before following Brian Kelly (now at Notre Dame) to Cincinnati.

“I love our kids. I love our program,” Jones said.

He likes something else about Cincinnati. “Our football field is right on campus,” Jones said. “To be truthful it gives us a home-field advantage.”

Jones said the media and fans would probably love to see his Bearcats and Kelly’s Irish tangle some time down the road.

“I really don’t look for that to happen because of our conference obligations and because schedules are set for five or six years,” he said.

Jones, who signed pictured autographs, has mixed emotions about major Division I schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma, Alabama and LSU playing for a true national championship.

“We have to remember that these are college kids, not professionals, and every single regular season game counts,” Jones said. “It’s not like that in college basketball.”

Jones is concerned about the new Division I playoff football format. “I just hope the committee is not biased,” he said.

One of Jones’ biggest concerns growing up was making sure he didn’t do anything to embarrass his late father, former Saugatuck Police Chief Lyle Jones.

“I respected that man so much,” Butch said. “He was my hero.”

Jones also spoke highly of two hero-like women in his life, his mother Betty and his wife Barbara.

“Like my father, my mother was always there for her children,” Jones said. “Because I’m gone so much (with his coaching responsibilities), my wife is also like a father to our three sons.”

St. Peter’s priest Fr. Tim Cuny was happy to share the special program with Douglas Community of Church Pastor Bob McAndrews and Fr. Corey Stoppel of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Saugatuck.

“This is a community project,” Cuny said. “Our goal is to get even more churches involved.”

Contact Leo Martonosi at leomartonosi@gmail.com.

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