General
Justin Jones is used to restoring high school football programs.
He has helped turn around teams at Florala, New Brockton, Cordova and Beauregard.
Now the 42-year-old will get a chance to do the same thing at Class 7A Robertsdale.
Jones was approved Thursday night by the Baldwin County Board of Education as the Golden Bears’ new head football coach. He replaces Cris Bell, who left after one season to take the job at Tuscaloosa County.
“The rebuilding process has been a part of my journey, and that’s been a blessing,” he said. “I never really walked into a situation where a team was coming off a 10-win season or a major playoff run. I get it. I understand the challenges in front of us. But good, bad or ugly, we’ve had those challenges at other places as well. Hopefully, we can manage them at Robertsdale like we did at other places and put a product out there that is what the community needs and deserves.”
Robertsdale ended a 24-game losing streak by winning its first two games of the 2024 season, but the Golden Bears finished just 2-8. Robertsdale is just 12-47 since 2017 and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004.
“We have a blueprint,” Jones said. “It’s more of a 365-day type deal. It’s not really a Friday night deal. It’s not like coach Jones has some magic formula. I’ve just been blessed to be around some good football coaches. The formula changes from place to place. We cut stuff out and add stuff in. But it has allowed us to get things in order and get things turned around at the different places we’ve been.”
Jones is coming off a 25-19 run in four years as head coach at Beauregard. He led the team to the playoffs in his last three seasons there, including a 10-2 record in 2022. The Hornets were 5-15 in the two seasons before Jones arrived.
He is 72-59 overall in 12 years overall. He spent two years at Florala, five at New Brockton and one at Cordova. Nine of his last 10 teams have made the playoffs. Jones also had two stints as an assistant coach at Enterprise and a stint as defensive coordinator at Prattville.
He said there were a lot of positives when he thought about taking the job at Robertsdale.
“For us, just the opportunity to be in that area,” he said. “You never hear anything negative about the Baldwin County area. If you take football and the school aspect out of it, you are still talking about the quality of life and the ability to live in a really unique and fun environment that is really cool for your family. It’s an easy sell.”
Jones also said he was excited to work with Robertsdale principal Shay White and is extremely encouraged by the facilities upgrades taking place at the school.
“We are in fast forward when it comes to getting the athletic facilities up to part with everyone else in the area,” Jones said. “To be a part of that is exciting. I’ve been at places where similar changes have happened, and I’ve seen how it not only changes the football program culture but athletics in general and the school in general. To be able to walk in as head football coach and put a stamp on things and have an immediate impact is exciting.”
Robertsdale competes in Class 7A, Region 1 along with Alma Bryant, Baker, Daphne, Davidson, Fairhope, Foley and Mary G. Montgomery.
Jones’ first official day on the job is Friday.
“No time to waste,” he said. “It’s like they said in Smokey and the Bandit. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.”
The Golden Bears are scheduled to open the season against LeFlore on Aug. 22.
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