Former Ohio State athletic director Jim Jones died Wednesday at his home in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Jones, who worked in Ohio State's athletic department for 27 years and was the Buckeyes' athletic director from 1987-94, was 83 years old.
After starting his career at Ohio State in 1965 as a physical education instructor, Jones joined Ohio State's athletic department in 1967 as an academic advisor for the football team. He became an assistant athletic director in 1970 and was promoted to associate athletic director in 1977, then succeeded Rick Bay in 1987 to become the sixth athletic director in Ohio State history.
Jones retired in 1994 after seven years leading the Ohio State athletic department. He received the James J. Corbett Memorial Award in 2013 from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, for which he was a past president. In 2018, Ohio State's Varsity O Alumni Society created the Jim Jones Career Achievement Award, which honors a former male Ohio State athlete who has “contributed to the honor and fame of The Ohio State University” through his work in his career.
“Jim Jones had a significant and positive impact on my life,” current athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. “I will miss him greatly. He had a commitment to diversity and made a tremendous contribution to the growth of Ohio State athletics. Sheila and I share our condolences to Linda and his family.”
Jim Jones had a significant and positive impact on my life. I will miss him greatly. He had a commitment to diversity and made a tremendous contribution to the growth of Ohio State athletics. Sheila and I share our condolences to Linda and his family. https://t.co/WyI3QIkY7W
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) April 22, 2020
Funeral arrangements are pending for Jones, who is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Lynnae MaGinn, son-in-law Mark MaGinn and granddaughters Courtney and Taylor.
