Pat Jones To Be Inducted Into Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

News9.com

STILLWTER, Oklahoma – Former Oklahoma State football coach Pat Jones will be inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2012.

Jones, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, is the winningest coach in OSU history. During his 11-year tenure from 1984-1994 Jones amassed a record of 62-60-3 and a 3-1 bowl record.

Jones came to OSU as a defensive assistant under Jimmy Johnson and eventually took over the head coaching spot in 1984.

He was the first coach to win 10 games in a season doing it three times in 1984, 1987 and 1988.

Jones college football career began at Arkansas Tech where he played linebacker and nose guard before he transferred to the University of Arkansas. He went on to later coach at Arkansas as a graduate assistant with the defensive line in 1974. He was also the defensive coordinator at Forest Heights and Hall High Schools in Little Rock from 1969-73.

He has coached two NFL Hall of Fame running backs in Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas and has coached seven All-Americans, including four two-time All-Americans.

After his career at Oklahoma State, Jones went on to serve as an assistant coach in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.

Jones is one of 11 new entrants into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He joins Nolan Richardson's 1994 national championship basketball team and other greats in this year's class.

Former Arkansas basketball players Lee Mayberry and U.S. Reed will also be inducted, along with Oaklawn Park announcer Terry Wallace, former Razorbacks football player Harry Jones. Also on the list are former high school football coach Bill Keedy. former Southern Arkansas women's basketball coach Margaret Downing, former college coach Bob Ford, former minor league baseball player Elmer B. Lindsey, former Central Arkansas football coach Raymond Bright and jockey Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton.

The Class of 2012 induction is set for February 3, 2012.