Jump to Comments

It’s amazing what happens once the NBA season is close. All of a sudden, we have plenty to write about. Today the Spurs announced that Brad Jones will be the head coach of the Austin Toros in 2010-11. Jones takes over for Quin Snyder, who joined the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach this summer.

Per the press release:

Spurs Sports and Entertainment today announced that Brad Jones has been hired as the head coach of the Austin Toros, the NBA Development League team owned and operated by Spurs Sports and Entertainment.

“We are excited to have Brad join our organization,” said RC Buford, president of sports franchises for Spurs Sports and Entertainment. “We are confident that Brad will provide outstanding leadership and instruction for the Toros players. His coaching style will provide our fans with an outstanding experience while still focusing on the Toros main mission, which is player development.”

Jones spent the last three seasons as the head coach of the Utah Flash. He was named the head coach of the Flash on May 24, 2007. As a D-League expansion team the Flash enjoyed a successful inaugural campaign under Jones, finishing the 2007-08 season with a 24-26 mark. During the 2008-09 season the Flash posted a 32-18 record and advanced to the 2009 D-League Finals. Utah posted a 28-22 record in 2009-10, making a second straight playoff appearance. Jones was relieved of his coaching duties in July of 2010.

Prior to joining the Flash, Jones served as a regional scout for the Utah Jazz for six years.

Here’s the big question in this announcement: Will Jones’ former assistant, Mark Madsen, follow him from Utah to Austin?

Okay, it’s not the biggest question, but it’s still a fun one. In all seriousness, Jones has a pretty solid reputation around the D-League, and should sustain Austin’s fine reputation for developing talent.