Arkansas State’s Jones anticipates challenges in Sun Belt Conference

Butch Jones had a healthy respect for Sun Belt Conference football before he became Arkansas State’s head coach in December.

A few months with the Red Wolves confirmed his view of the league.

“Obviously being in the Southeastern Conference for the last eight to nine years, I followed the Sun Belt very, very closely,” Jones said during a recent interview session. “Whether it was at Tennessee or Alabama, we played teams from the Sun Belt and obviously from a geographical standpoint, you know the players who are being recruited.

“I had a tremendous amount of respect for this conference and I think all you have to do is do a fact check and you have to look at the recent results of this conference. The commitment by the universities and the institutions toward their football programs and athletics in general has been remarkable.”

Jones worked in three other Football Bowl Subdivision conferences over 11 previous seasons as a head coach, winning championships in the Mid-American and Big East conferences. He brings an 84-54 career record into his first season at ASU.

From 2013-17, Jones served as Tennessee’s head coach. Asked about the biggest difference in being an SEC or Sun Belt head coach, he said he didn’t see much.

“The players are very driven, they want to do well. You’re competing in a conference where it’s important at all the institutions. There’s commitment levels, there’s high expectations in recruiting,” said Jones, who spent the last three seasons on staff at Alabama.

Jones said he is proud of ASU’s players and coaches for their progress through the winter and spring months. The Red Wolves wrapped up spring football April 17.

Looking ahead to the fall,

Jones said the Red Wolves didn’t get any favors when their schedule was produced.

“I would put our schedule up against anybody in the country, any conference,” Jones said. “You look at opening the season in state with Central Arkansas, who’s done a great job and a great program, but then Memphis and having to go on the road at Washington, Tulsa and Georgia Southern.

ASU’s home conference schedule includes both 2020 divisional champions, Coastal Carolina and LouisianaLafayette. The Red Wolves will also welcome Appalachian State, the Sun Belt champion in four of the last five seasons, to Jonesboro.

While the Red Wolves slipped to 4-7 last year after playing in a bowl game nine consecutive seasons, the Sun Belt surged forward collectively in 2020. Two teams finished in the top 15 of the final Associated Press poll and league members won four of their five bowl games.