Neil Warren Jones (born 16 February 1982) is a New Zealand collegiate soccer coach and former professional footballer. Jones is the current head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's soccer team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Neil Warren Jones | ||
Date of birth | (1982-02-16) 16 February 1982 (age 40) | ||
Place of birth | Takapuna, New Zealand | ||
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Wisconsin Badgers (head coach) | ||
Youth career | |||
Westlake Boys High School | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2001–2004 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos | 75 | (36) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004 | Cape Cod Crusaders | 9 | (3) |
2005 | East Coast Bays AFC | ||
2005 | Queensland Roar FC | 0 | (0) |
2005 | Kuala Lumpur FA | ||
National team | |||
1999 | New Zealand U17 | 3 | (0) |
New Zealand U20 | |||
New Zealand U23 | |||
2004 | New Zealand | 2 | (1[lower-alpha 1]) |
Teams managed | |||
2006–2009 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (assistant) | ||
2010–2012 | Northwestern Wildcats (assistant/associate) | ||
2013–2021 | Loyola Ramblers | ||
2022– | Wisconsin | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Jones was born 16 February 1982 in Takapuna, New Zealand, to parents Fran and Barry Jones.[7] Growing up in New Zealand, he spent time with many football clubs, among them Rangitoto (Juniors), East Coast Bays AFC, Dunedin Technical, Waitakere City F.C., and Westlake Boys High School.[7] He would later attend the University of Otago briefly before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara.[7]
While at UCSB, Jones was a student-athlete on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team, studying in the nationally-ranked UCSB Geography Program.[7] Alongside fellow Kiwi freshman defender Tony Lochhead, Jones appeared in 14 games, scoring 3 goals and adding an assist.[8] He was moved in his second year from defense to forward by coach Tim Vom Steeg.[7] As a forward, Jones led the attack for the Gauchos and culminated in an appearance of the 2004 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship final match, losing on penalties. For his UCSB career, Jones appeared in 75 games and scored 36 goals with 15 assists.[8][9][10][11]
While enrolled at UCSB, Jones appeared for Cape Cod Crusaders of the USL PDL. In 2004 alongside Gaucho teammate Drew McAthy, Jones appeared in 9 games and scored 3 goals.[12]
After leaving Santa Barbara, Jones went on trial with European clubs, including Atlético Madrid and Aalesunds FK, in hopes of securing a professional contract.[13] While with Aalesunds FK, the training staff were impressed with his play and wanted Jones to play in front of manager Ivar Morten Normark, who had been out on holiday.[14][15][16] He appeared in a friendly match for Aalesunds against IL Hødd, but he was forced to leave just minutes from the start after fracturing his leg, ending his trial with the club.[17][18][19]
After rehabbing from his injury, Jones spent time with East Coast Bays AFC.[20] He later signed a short-term contract with Queensland Roar FC of the A-League.[20][21] Jones was unable to find his way on to the opening day roster and never competed in a league game for Queensland.
He spent time with Kuala Lumpur FA of the Malaysia Premier League before ending his playing career in 2005.[22][4]
Neil has represented New Zealand at the U17, U20, U23, and Senior International squads.[23] As a member of the New Zealand U17 "dream team", Jones competed in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in New Zealand.[24] He appeared in all three of New Zealand's Group A games, but New Zealand failed to advance.[25][26]
Jones was named to the New Zealand senior international team for the 2004 OFC Nations Cup for 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. He made his debut on 4 June 2004 against Tahiti national football team and scored a goal.A [1] His last appearance was two days later on 6 June against Fiji.[27]
It was announced in March 2006 that Jones was added to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team coaching staff by Tim Vom Steeg as an assistant coach.[28] The team would go on to win the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.
After four seasons at his alma mater, Jones moved on to be an assistant coach at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, under Tim Lenahan.[29] Ahead of the 2012 season, Jones was promoted to associate head coach.[30]
On 20 December 2012, Jones was introduced as the head coach of Loyola University Chicago's men's soccer team.[31]
On 10 January 2022, Jones was hired as the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's soccer team, replacing John Trask.[32]
Source: [33]
Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
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Loyola University Chicago (Missouri Valley Conference) (2013–present) | |||||||||
2013 | Loyola Ramblers | 6–11–2 | 2–3–1 | 5th of 7 | |||||
2014 | Loyola Ramblers | 8–6–5 | 2–2–2 | 5th of 7 | |||||
2015 | Loyola Ramblers | 10–4–5 | 2–2–2 | 5th of 7 | |||||
2016 | Loyola Ramblers | 14–4–1 | 6–1–1 | 1st of 7 | NCAA 2nd round | ||||
Total: | 38–25–13 .586 | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
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Current head men's soccer coaches of the Big Ten Conference | |
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New Zealand squad – 2004 OFC Nations Cup third place | ||
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