Michael Shane Jones

Michael Shane “Mike” Jones, 56, of Easley, passed away Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Born in Columbus, OH on February 16th, 1967, he was the son of Sandra Bruney Scahill (Thomas) and the late James H. “Jim” Jones.

Mike, better known as Coach Jones, coached men’s basketball for almost 30 years; Including Easley High School in Easley, SC; Tusculum College in Tusculum, TN; Brevard College in Brevard, NC; Hazard Community and Technical College in Jackson, KY; and his alumn, Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY.

Coach Jones’ career began at Eastern Kentucky University from 1994-1996 as a graduate assistant while getting his masters degree in Physical Education and Sports Administration. Coach Jones moved to Jackson, Kentucky in 1997 where he was the assistant and then head coach at Hazard Community College. His head coaching career took him to Brevard College in Brevard, NC, where from 1999-2011 he achieved 175 wins, was voted the SAC Coach of the Year, took three trips to national conferences (NAIA and NCAA DII) and maintained a 98 percent graduation rate for his program. In 2019, Coach Jones was inducted into the Brevard College Athletics Hall of Fame. After Brevard, Coach Jones moved to Greeneville, TN where he took the head coaching position at Tusculum College. His last coaching tenure was at Easley High School in Easley, SC where he was voted 4A Regional Co-Coach of the Year. Coach Jones amassed over 300 wins in his career and touched the lives of countless individuals. He will be greatly missed.

In addition to his mother, Coach Jones is survived by daughters, Rheanna Jones of Mills River, NC, and Lillian "Lilly" and Caris Jones, both of Easley; a brother, Christopher Jones of Maysville, KY; and fiancée, Danielle Walkup.

A celebration of his life will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 5 Point Church, Easley.