PITTSBURGH - Former St. Francis men's basketball coach Bobby Jones was in attendance at Sunday's matchup between Villanova and Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center and listed on the media credentials list as an NBA scout.
"I'm just doing a little independent scouting, covering Big East teams," Jones said. "Keeping in contact with people I've known throughout my college career and reconnecting with people both in the college and NBA level."
Jones has moved back to Pittsburgh with his family, where he lived in the '90s. He said he has a lot of friends in Pittsburgh, and his wife had a job opportunity in the city.
Jones is hoping to get back into coaching at the college level.
"Right now I'm mainly spending some time following the Big East," Jones said. "I've been reconnecting with some coaches I've lost some contact with during nine years in the Northeast Conference.
"This has given me an opportunity to not only reconnect with a lot of coaches this year, but it's also allowed me to evaluate a different level of talent. So I'm hopeful that in the coming months an opportunity will arise for me to get back into the college level."
Jones has kept track of the Red Flash's success this season. St. Francis is 11-16 overall but 9-7 in the Northeast Conference and has clinched a spot in the NEC tournament for the first time in five years.
"I've seen bits and pieces of their season," Jones said. "I'm certainly excited for them, in particular the seniors on the team. Devin Sweetney has put together a couple of nice games coming down the stretch. If I'm not mistaken, their four seniors are probably the last players on the team under my administration, and I'm so happy for them, and I'm really rooting for those guys."
- Michael Boytim
