University of British Columbia Athletics

In the words of Dale Ohman, UBC volleyball's head coach for 25 years, 1970s UBC star Tom Jones "... had the greatest impact on the game of any individual that has ever played here... " Jones played volleyball for UBC from 1974/75 through 76/77, a high point in the sport's history at UBC, leading the team to the Canada West title and Canadian university championship in 1975/76 and the Canada West championship again in 76/77. According to former Women's National Team coach Lorne Sawula, who was Jones' coach at UBC, "Tom was probably the most amazing and skilled athlete that I had the pleasure to coach as a young player... he showed how gifted an athlete he was by playing both in the hitting and setting positions and led UBC to a National title with the UBC Hall of Fame 1975/76 team and the silver medal in 76/77."

Coach Sawula continues, "His athleticism was world class and his set decision ability was superb... he was instrumental in leading Canada to its fourth-place finish at the 1984 Olympics in LA, Canada's highest ever finish in International volleyball." In fact, Jones is one of only seven from the men's volleyball program at UBC to compete in the Olympics. Just after finishing at UBC, Jones was an integral member of the 1979 bronze medal Pan Am Games Canadian team, a team which in 2001 was inducted into the Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame. "Tom had terrific anticipation, great quickness and phenomenal technical skill... and a creative and adaptable mind. He was always thinking and he was always able to back it up with execution or an overall game plan," remembers former National team teammate Charles Parkinson, now Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts for British Columbia.

Jones' career at UBC predates Canada West All-Star teams and CIS All-Canadian teams so he is unable to be measured in these particular terms. However the accolades expressed by his coaches and teammates attest to both his athletic and mental abilities. According to former UBC teammate Ian Gregory "... on the National team it seems that Tom actually designed the offence – as the setter." Sawula, who recommended Jones for the National team states, "Throughout his career he was a fearless leader... he can lead, organize, direct and guide individuals in their career endeavors. To do this he applied those basic principles he learned as a player."

Jones, a Big Block winner who graduated from UBC in Science in 1979, received further praise from his former teammate Parkinson; "as a teammate he was always there when you needed him, both on and off the court. He would praise you when you did well, encourage you when you were struggling and wasn't afraid to let you know if your effort was less than expected."

Following graduation Jones continued his volleyball career as a professional in Europe playing in several European Cup playoff games. In 2010, Jones was inducted into the Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame.

In the words of his National team coach Ken Maeda, "He not only concentrated on his training but also his strength and leadership inspired the team toward our dreams. I believe that his work was really great for his young teammates." This sentiment was echoed in 2008 by Hugh Bartlett, coach of the Canadian Masters National Volleyball team, a team on which Jones played. Upon meeting Tom, Bartlett stated, "I immediately noticed his charismatic nature and understood his desire to achieve the best possible outcome for the team." Bartlett further mentioned that Jones "... established himself as the heart and court leader through his hustle and determination. In 32 years of coaching... he is one of the finest people I have met... and will keep his legend alive as I pass along his story to the younger players who aspire to reach the level he has attained."

Former UBC volleyball coach Richard Schick has met Jones and is an unabashed admirer. “He is the best – we should be proud to have him as a UBC alum. He’s modest, you would never know he was one of the best setters in the world.” Richard says that Jones currently is an advocate for volleyball and amateur sport and continues to have a strong interest in the volleyball program at UBC. The UBC Hall of Famer Jones spent seven years working in government for the BC Sport Ministry and in 2001 became the inaugural executive director for Athletes Can, the association representing the best interests of Canada’s National Team athletes. In 2005 Jones was named as Commonwealth Games Canada’s Chief Executive Officer.

Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian