CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
A family academic challenge pushed ECU grad to a degree
STATISTICS
Name: Morris Jones
College: College of Health and Human Performance
Major: Physical education
Age: 55
Classification/Year: Senior
Hometown: Wilson, North Carolina
Hobbies/interests: Coaching football, basketball and baseball, grilling, and spending time with family.
FAVORITES
Favorite hangout: In my man cave
Favorite place on campus: Main Campus Student Center
Favorite places to eat: Panda Express, Raising Cane’s
Favorite class: Elementary School Instruction in Physical Education
Professor who influenced you the most: Jeffrey Pizzutilla
MOTIVATIONS
Dream job: Retirement/coaching on a college or professional level
Your words to live by: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”
What advice do you have for other students? Take advantage of all the help and opportunities that come your way.
What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year? Location of all the amenities that were offered.
An academic challenge from a few years ago between pre-teenage Jordan and grandfather Morris Jones was intended to be a motivational tool for the youngster.
Now 55 and graduating with a Bachelor of Science in physical education, it is Jones, however, who relied on determination and encouragement in his journey from Navy veteran to East Carolina University graduate. After his service as an aviation storekeeper, Jones established himself as a youth sports coach in eastern North Carolina and later enrolled at Pitt Community College preceding a transfer to ECU.
When Jones walks as an ECU graduate, many years older than his peers, 12-year-old Jordan will be one of the proud family members in attendance. Jones has three children and four grandchildren.
Jones said while the physical education side of his degree was relatable, incorporating health education was a new challenge.
“I told him that I could get better grades than you can and I started it and thought, ‘Man, I might have made a mistake,’ but I couldn’t quit,” Jones said. “I couldn’t quit because I didn’t want him to see that. The ball just kept rolling.”
As a veteran coach and budding teacher, Jones’ ball-rolling reference is fitting.
He has coached Jordan in football, basketball and baseball since he was 4 years old. He has mentored many others as a coach at Rocky Mount Academy and Elm City Middle School. Adding the role of student teacher at Springfield Middle School in Lucama helped him grow in certain areas.
“The PE side is like coaching and it’s relatable and there’s not many sports I don’t know,” said Jones, a 1986 high school graduate who left the U.S. Navy in 1994 and moved back to Wilson. “The health part has been interesting. It’s new and you’re dealing with sixth graders who just came from elementary school versus an eighth grader who has been there for two years. It’s different levels of communication. … Prior to student teaching, I spent many mornings at 4 or 5 o’clock in the library trying to get things done and find answers. I would come to campus early and do some work in the library and then go to class.”
Jones’ coaching career was sparked by his daughter, Brooke, playing softball.
“You know how it is when they start playing recreation ball,” Jones said. “They need someone to volunteer. That’s when my coaching career began.”
He is now adding ECU graduate to his unique resume.
“I guess I’m not your typical college student,” Jones said. “I’ve lived my life and took the military path first and started a family and now back in school with grandkids on top of it. … There’s been days I wanted to just throw in the towel and say, ‘Jordan, you got this one. Granddaddy can’t take it anymore.’ But I’ve had a lot of people encouraging me.”