During their time at Michigan’s University of Ferris State, Butch Jones met his future wife, Barbara. As their relationship grew stronger over time, they started dating, married in 1997, and had three sons together.
Born on January 17, 1968, Lyle Allen “Butch” Jones Jr., popularly known as Butch Jones, is an American football coach who is currently Arkansas State University’s head coach.
From 2018 to 2020, Jones was the head coach’s special assistant and offensive analyst at the University of Alabama.
Before that, he served as head coach of Central Michigan University from 2007 to 2009, the University of Cincinnati from 2010 to 2012, and the University of Tennessee from 2013 to 2017.
Originally from Michigan, he was a wide receiver and running back for Ferris State University’s college football team.
Additionally, Butch Jones guided the Arkansas State Red Wolves to their first bowl championship since 2019 by leading them to victory over the Bowling Green Falcons in the 68 Ventures Bowl.
At the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl, which took place on December 26 at Mobile, Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium, the Arkansas State Red Wolves defeated the Bowling Green Falcons 38-31.
For coach Butch Jones, who took over the Arkansas State program in 2021, this victory marks a significant turning point.
Under his leadership, the Red Wolves have steadily improved, culminating in this bowl victory, and finished the season with an 8-5 record.
Arkansas State claims their first bowl win since 2019, and first under Coach Butch Jones!#WolvesUp 🐺🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/LEsnAmLBUw
— Arkansas State Football (@AStateFB) December 27, 2024
Butch Jones and His Wife Barbara Were in a Long-Distance Relationship for Two and a Half Years
In 1997, Butch Jones married Barbara, his long-time girlfriend whom he had met while he was a high school student.
Additionally, Jones and Barb met at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while they were both students.
By the early part of the following autumn semester, the couple had begun dating after meeting close to the end of a spring semester and running into each other that summer.
In addition, Barbara was born into a family of ardent hoop fans and played basketball while growing up in Michigan.
Before starting his coaching career, Tennessee’s coach said he and his wife lived apart for two and a half years.
When he started working as a graduate assistant at Rutgers in 1990, she accepted a position as an intern in New Jersey.
Furthermore, Jones giggled as he related to Stokes how Barb had been pulled aside by the spouses of other coaches when they were in New Jersey in an attempt to “give her an education on being a coach’s wife.“
In a video that Tennessee posted on Facebook, Butch and Barbara discuss their relationship and raising their children together.
Additionally, the couple has three sons, Alex, Andrew, and Adam, who are all grown up and pursuing their interests.
While his father was still in charge, their oldest son, Alex, spent his first two years as a Volunteer specialist.
Additionally, Adam resides in Tennessee with his mother and younger brother and plays wide receiver for the Red Wolves.
Their youngest son, Andrew, currently attends Valley View Junior High.
Although the Jones family now enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, Tennessee’s coach has previously stated that he will never forget his wife working two jobs to raise their eldest son, Alex.
Additional Information
- In addition to earning $3.085 million a year, Butch Jones has a $15 million net worth.
- Barbara was 19 and Butch was 24, and they dated for nine months before getting married.
- Jones cited Perkins, Graber, DeBord, Rodriguez, and Kelly as influences on his coaching career in a 2013 interview with Knoxville’s Cityview magazine.
