Khari Jones

Khari Okang Jones [ke-HAR-ee] (born May 16, 1971) is a former professional Canadian football player and current offensive coordinator for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is also a former television sports reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Jones played quarterback in the CFL, where he enjoyed his most success with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Jones also played briefly for the Arena Football League's Albany Firebirds and the World League of American Football's Scottish Claymores. Jones was recently the quarterbacks coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

College career

Jones was a record setting college quarterback at the University of California, Davis, where in two seasons as a starter he became the first UC Davis quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards and over 50 touchdowns in a season, while leading the Aggies to a 17-2-1 record during his junior and senior seasons (1992–1993). In 2000, Jones was inducted into the UC Davis Aggies Hall of Fame.^[1] During these college years, he also focused on the Dramatic Arts. Notable roles include the part of Juan Perón in Evita, and of Vladimir, in Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot. Jones is married to another UC Davis alumnus, Justine. They have two daughters together, Jaelyn and Siena.

Arena Football League

Jones joined the Arena Football League's Albany Firebirds in 1995. For the next two seasons, he received very little playing time, making only 3 out of 5 pass completions in his first season, and 3 out of 4 pass completions in 1996.

Canadian Football League

In 1997, Jones signed with the BC Lions. Jones played very little during his three-year tenure with the Lions, as he was relegated to the backup spot behind incumbent quarterback Damon Allen.

In 2000, Jones joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Though he initially served as a backup to Kerwin Bell, Jones eventually won the starting job during the middle of the 2000 season, thereby clearing the way for the Bombers to release Bell in midseason.

In 2001, Jones was the CFLs Most Outstanding Player after leading the Bombers to a 14-4 record, including 12 straight wins. Jones was the Bombers quarterback in the 2001 Grey Cup in Montreal, where heavily favoured Winnipeg lost to the Calgary Stampeders, 27-19.

Jones' following season (2002) was even better statistically, which included 5,353 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes. This was the third most passing touchdowns in a season (behind two seasons in which Doug Flutie completed 47 and 48)^[2]). From 2000 to 2002, Jones' 107 touchdown passes exceeded the record by any other quarterback in the CFL or NFL over the same period of time. In four seasons with Winnipeg, Jones set seventeen Bomber passing records, including throwing for five touchdowns in a game four times in one season.

During the 2004 CFL season, Jones was traded from the Blue Bombers to the Calgary Stampeders, partially due to a shoulder injury which had affected his play. In the off-season between the 2004 and 2005 seasons, the Stampeders signed free agent Henry Burris and Jones was released.

Jones attended the Edmonton Eskimos training camp at the beginning of the 2005 CFL season, but with the Eskimos signing Ricky Ray (and already having the 2004 season starter Jason Maas), Jones was released again. Midway through the 2005 season he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but was released after eight games.

Prior to the 2006 season Jones was signed by the Eskimos only to be released by them once more on June 10, 2006 as part of training camp cuts.

Three days later, on June 13, 2006, the CBC announced that Jones would be their sideline reporter for their CFL on CBC broadcasts.

On October 17, 2007, Jones inked a standard one-year contract plus an option with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and then signed his retirement papers right after. The paperwork means Jones officially retires as a Bomber, the team he had the most success with during his four-team, nine-year CFL career.

Coaching career

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

In 2009, Jones began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats under head coach Marcel Bellefeuille. In 2011, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and helped the team to an appearance in the East Final.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

On January 3, 2012, he was announced as part of the coaching staff for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their quarterbacks coach.^[3] In 2013, he helped his team win the 101st Grey Cup.

BC Lions

Jones was a top candidate to become the new offensive coordinator for the BC Lions in 2014. Jones officially became the offensive coordinator on December 23, 2013.

References

External links

• Profile at ticats.ca
• UC Davis Aggies Hall of Fame - 2000 Inductee Khari Okang Jones
• June 14, 2006 Edmonton Journal article - Khari finds new job as TV reporter
• AFL stats