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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Chris Jones

Chris Jones

  • Title
    Defensive Line/Defensive Run Game Coordinator
  • Alma Mater
    Hardin-Simmons '08
  • Email Address
    nposada@utep.edu
  • Phone
    915-747-5224
Chris Jones will begin his second season as the Miners’ defensive line coach/defensive run game coordinator. Jones was hired on Dec. 16, 2023.

The Miners racked up a CUSA-high 36 sacks as the defensive line collected 26 of them. UTEP ranked in the top 20 in the FBS in sacks. 
 
Bandit Maurice Westmoreland, a 2024 All-CUSA first team player, led the conference with 8.0 sacks. All-CUSA second team defensive lineman Kyran Duhon ranked second in the league with 7.0 sacks. Duhon was also named to the CUSA All-Freshman team. 
 
Westmoreland added 46 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and a team-high six quarterback hurries, while Duhon posted 43 tackles. 
 
Defensive end Bryton Thompson came up with a performance for the ages during UTEP’s come-from-behind win at NM State to wrap up 2024. The senior tallied five tackles and registered half a sack, but had two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns against the Aggies. Thompson’s touchdown put UTEP on the board first with an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter. After UTEP found itself down 24-7, the Orange and Blue rallied back to beat NM State 42-35. Thompson capped the rally with his second TD that put his squad up 42-24. Thompson is the first Miner in program history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game. 
 
Defensive tackle KD Johnson impressed with 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. 
 
Sione Tonga’uiha, UTEP’s “Trench Warrior”, tallied 23 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position. 
 
Jones came to the Sun City with Walden after serving as Austin Peay’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach the previous three seasons (2021-23). 

In 2023, Austin Peay went 9-3 overall, while the Governors finished 6-0 in United Athletic Conference action and claimed a UAC Championship. Austin Peay’s total defense ranked third in the UAC (396.0 yards allowed per game). APU rated third in the UAC and 42nd in FCS in scoring defense (24.4). The Governors were first in the UAC and 12th in FCS with a trio of defensive touchdowns. APU’s defense forced 16 turnovers, while it ranked third in UAC and 29th in FCS with 11 interceptions. Redshirt junior J’Vian McCray led the defense with 3.5 sacks, while the 6-foot, 327-pound defensive lineman added 24 tackles (eight solo), 5.0 TFLs, three breakups and a pair of QB hurries. Defensive linemen redshirt freshman Travis Bates (3.0 sacks) and graduate student Jau’Von Young (2.5 sacks) ranked second and third on the team in sacks, respectively. 
 
During the 2022 season, the Austin Peay rush defense ranked 29th in the FCS and second in the ASUN Conference, allowing 128.5 yards per game. The Governors’ defense led the ASUN and was tied for 16th in FCS with only 12 rushing scores allowed. In nine FCS games, the Governors’ run defense held five opponents under 100 yards rushing, including only a 34-yard day for Murray State – the fewest rushing yards allowed during the Walden Era. The Governors ranked first in the ASUN in total defense (317.2 ypg), scoring defense (22.2 ppg) and third-down conversion defense (.308). Those marks ranked 12th, 32nd and third, respectively in the FCS. Defensive lineman Kwame Sutton led the Governors’ defensive with 4.5 sacks. Ranked eighth in the ASUN in tackles for loss (7.5) and sixth in sacks. 
 
Jones served as Texas A&M-Kingsville’s co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach during the spring 2021 season in which the Javelinas played just two games and averaged 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks per contest. 
 
Prior his stops in Kingsville, Texas, and Clarksville, Tenn., Jones spent 10 seasons at his alma mater Hardin-Simmons (2010-20). During his time on the sideline, the Cowboys saw 16 All-ASC honorees from the defensive line under Jones, including the 2010 ASC Defensive Player of the Year in Hank Hornsby and a 2012 Second Team D3Football.com All-American in Undra Hendrix. Hendrix also set a program record with 11.0 sacks and was named ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year for his efforts.

Prior to his time at HSU, Jones was a graduate assistant coach at Sam Houston from 2008 through 2009 and spent two years at Hardin-Simmons from 2006 through 2007 in the same capacity. 
 
His playing career spanned four years for the Cowboys from 2003-06 where he played in 41 straight games, finished his career with nine sacks and 126 tackles, including 22.5 for loss, and was a second team D3Football.com All-American following the 2006 season.

Jones graduated from Hardin-Simmons with his Bachelor of Behavioral Science in 2008 and finished his Master of Science in kinesiology, sport, and recreation in 2018.
 
JONES’S COACHING CAREER
2024-Pres. – UTEP (defensive line/defensive run game coordinator) 
2021-23 – Austin Peay (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach)
2020-21 – Texas A&M-Kingsville (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach)
2010-20 – Hardin-Simmons (defensive line coach)
2008-10 – Sam Houston (graduate assistant – defense)