Following a season which started with coach Mike Jones taking leave for triple bypass surgery and ended with Mississippi College missing the ASC title game for the first time in a decade, Jones is stepping down as Choctaws' head coach. Don Lofton, who took over as head coach when Jones stepped down the last time, will resume the position, a position he held for four years from 2002-06.

Jones, who will remain athletic director, was 46-9 in his second stint with the Choctaws.

&&g-boxr&&"No one means more to MC's athletic program than Mike Jones and we are grateful for the great job he has done as both athletic director and men's head basketball coach," said school president Lee Royce. "I know we will continue to make great progress as he brings renewed energy and focus to the task of athletic director."

Jones led the Choctaws to 14 consecutive winning seasons and an overall record of 288-96 from 1988-2002. During the last two years Jones led the Choctaws to a 46-9 record, an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and an ASC championship. Jones ends his 16-year coaching career at MC with a record of 333-105.

"This was a very tough decision for me and one that I have spent several months thinking about," said Jones. "I am grateful I had the opportunity to be a head coach again the last two years, but for me this was the best decision. This will allow me to devote more time and energy to the entire athletics department and see what we can accomplish at MC."

Lofton was 92-23 in his four years at the helm. He led the Choctaws to two Sweet Sixteen appearances and two American Southwest Conference championships. Prior to his stint as head coach, Lofton spent 18 years as an assistant coach at MC.

"I'm very excited about resuming the position of head coach, but at the same time I will miss coaching with Coach Jones," said Lofton. "We have a close relationship and working with him again was a great experience for me personally. I'm looking forward to the future of our men's basketball program and building on what we have already accomplished."