Win No. 500: Jeff Jones Sr. Leads Madison Prep Back to Lake Charles
by Robin Fambrough // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Jeff Jones Sr. saw the possibility when he updated his team’s preseason records.
Reality hit home after Madison Prep defeated Archbishop Hannan 62-51 to advance to the LHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament once again Friday night.
The Chargers (34-1) are in the LHSAA tourney for the 15th straight season. The victory over defending champion Hannan was Jones’ 500th career win in 16 years since starting the MPA program.
“I didn’t look at it (wins total) again until about two weeks ago,” Jones said. “We were just working to get through the season … getting through district and then the first playoff games.
“This was one of those years where we had new starters, including a freshman point guard. There are no guarantees. I never take anything for granted. And I also know I’m blessed.”
The 53-year-old Jones takes a 500-97 record into Wednesday’s Division II select semifinal against No. 12 Northside (23-13). Game time is 1 p.m. at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Jones’s .838 career winning percentage tells only part of the story. The Chargers have won eight LHSAA titles and recorded three runner-up finishes in five different classes/divisions over the years. MPA seeks its first LHSAA title since 2022.
“That is amazing,” Glen Oaks coach Harvey Adger said. “It just shows what you can do when you roll up your sleeves, work hard, have that attention to detail, and that drive.
“You know, I’m just so proud of Jeff. His Dad brought him to me when he was 14 years old, and he played for me. Then, for 10 years, he sat in that first seat next to me as an assistant coach.”
Jones’ path to head coaching success did not follow a straight line. He entered the military after high school, then got his education degree at Southern University before returning to coach alongside Adger, who has 951 career wins at GOHS.
There were no guarantees when Jones accepted the job as head basketball coach-athletic director in 2011-12. Charter schools such as Madison Prep were relatively new to Louisiana’s education-sports landscape.
MPA started out in Class B and lost in the early rounds of the playoffs. The following year, future LSU post player Jarell Martin burst on the scene, and a Class B state title soon followed. Then came titles in 1A, 2A, 3A, and Division II select as the school also grew physically with classroom facilities.
“People talk about the teams and the players,” Jones said. “People see that. What they don’t see is the support I’ve always gotten from our administrators. And my family.
“Our first principal, Alisa Welch, and director Dwan Johnson have supported athletics along with the academic components. We (Madison Prep) recently received an A grade academically, and we’re proud of that. We were a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence a few years ago.”
Jones also credits family support.
“My wife and my mother take care of so much because, as a coach, you do miss a lot of things. I have two daughters and missed prom night for both of them because of basketball.”
This trip to Lake Charles offers full-circle moments. The program is a family affair with his son Jeffery Jr. on staff.
Another assistant, Torry Beaulieu, played for Adger and Jones on Glen Oaks’ 2005 Class 4A title team. Beaulieu’s son, Torry Jr., is the Chargers’ freshman point guard. And … Northside coach Troy Jones played on one of Jones’ AAU summer teams as a high schooler.
Though the Chargers are led by 6-foot-2 junior guard Elijah Garner (17.8 points, eight rebounds), who holds offers from LSU and North Carolina State, there were question marks going into the season.
Beaulieu Jr. and two seniors, Landon Epps and Jermaine O’Connor, all average nine points per game. There was a regional-round close call … a one-point win over local rival McKinley in the regional round.
“We’ve got a motto I picked up in the military, ‘Adapt and Overcome,’ ” Jones said. “Same philosophy this week.”