PROFILE
In late 2024, after 5-1 / 2 years in Fayetteville, Jones transitioned to Duke University where he currently serves as athletic field specialist with a focus on soccer and lacrosse. According to Jones, he was drawn to Duke by the opportunity to work in collegiate sports for a Power 5 school that has a reputation for excellence.
“ The thing that it was always interesting when I look back on it now, is that I didn’ t purposely leave jobs after five years,” said Jones.“ But five to six years was my number for whatever reason. I’ m very proud of the teams that I built— particularly in Fayetteville. I’ m extremely proud that we won Head Groundskeeper of the Year in the Carolina League and then Head Groundskeeper of the Year at the national level for Low-A Minor League Baseball in the same year.
“ It wasn’ t that I had to move on,” he added.“ It was always about what’ s next. How do I get to the next level? Part of the challenge in sports field management is breaking that ceiling, and not just being the grass cutter, but being the administrator.”
THE NEXT LEVEL What’ s next for Jones is leading the way for SFMA and continuing to help others.
His connection to the association and his journey of service began with his connection with Simpson, who introduced Jones to STMA and the annual conference. That led to a pivotal decision in Jones’ s journey.
“ At the first conference I attended I found myself in a position to decide if I would be a wallflower and just try to fit in quietly, or if I would try to make something out of the opportunity,” he said.“ I walked into the annual meeting room and there were several hundred people there. Just about everyone in the room was white. I didn’ t think there was anyone I could identify with or connect with on a comfort level. But I decided to walk around and introduce myself.
In the years that followed, Jones continued to be exposed to the STMA and, more importantly, its members.
“ Several years later I started to look back and see how many people played a role in my still being involved, the success that I was having, and the knowledge that I had gained by attending,” he said.“ That was a full-circle moment for me thinking about the people who helped me. It made me want to start helping others.”
Jones’ s first service to the association came as part of committees, which was a learning experience that taught him leadership skills in addition to showing him how to deal with people from throughout the country and how to relate to members. That ultimately led to Jones serving on the board of directors beginning in 2021.
His board service came at a time during which Kim Heck retired as CEO of the association, the transition to Laura Simmons, and then to a year without a CEO during which the board had to navigate all of the challenges the association faced during that time. From that experience, Jones took away that change is what you make of it.
“ If you approach change as being difficult or you are not willing to think outside the box, then it’ s going to be challenging,” he said.“ If you’ re more receptive to the idea that you don’ t know what the end result will be, you can look at it as,‘ Here comes change, and the possibility of it being great is there if I step into the moment.’”
MORE THAN GRASS Jones has devoted his career to creating safe playing surfaces and giving back to the sports field management industry. Outside of work and his role with SFMA, he has shared his own brand of leadership advice by authoring his“ More than Grass” column in SportsField Management magazine.
According to Jones, he has done so to provide a different perspective in the hope that he can help others build upon their management skills. He now spends a lot of time with his son developing a business plan to extend the reach of the More than Grass brand through additional articles, public speaking engagements, podcasts and other related content opportunities.
That familial effort is fitting, because getting to know Jones outside of work, and outside his role as association leader, begins with family.
“ I was always on the grind, but my wife showed me how to make time,” said Jones.“ She would plan a vacation trip right at the end of the Minor League Baseball season. My kids are now adults and I have three granddaughters. I’ ve learned a higher level of appreciation for family.”
The loss of an uncle and a cousin during the past year have also led Jones to emphasize family and the value of time spent together.
“ My daughters have me wrapped around their fingers,” he said.“ They each have daughters. So if any of them needs or wants something, I jump.”
26 SportsField Management | February 2026 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com