NCAA

Alabama QB Mac Jones Coached a Women’s Football Team To a Championship

Disclosure
We publish independently audited information that meets our strong editorial guidelines. Be aware we may earn a commission if you purchase anything via links on our pages.
Mac Jones / Alabama Crimson Tide

Quarterback Mac Jones already held several Alabama Crimson Tide football records and added another early in a 48-17 victory against Tennessee in SEC action. By opening 11-for-11 on throws, Jones extended his streak to 19 consecutive completions over two games for a school mark.

That’s even more impressive than his championship season coaching a lesser-known football squad in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Mac Jones was in the same recruiting class as Tua Tagovailoa

RELATED: Nick Saban’s Massive Salary Makes Him 2020’s Highest-Paid NCAA Football Coach

Mac Jones was an accomplished quarterback at The Bolles School in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, and attracted his first scholarship offer from Kentucky before his junior season. By the time his scholastic days were over, Jones piled up close to two dozen offers but made his original verbal commitment to the Wildcats.

By the time his senior season was over, however, Jones had a change of heart and switched his allegiance to Alabama even though he knew that coveted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had also picked the Crimson Tide.

Jones redshirted as a freshman and then made a big impression in the annual spring game. However, he was going to have to wait in line in the fall. Tagovailoa had wrestled the starting job away from Jalen Hurts, and both were ahead of Jones on the depth chart.

Tua Tagovailoa’s injury sets the stage

RELATED: Nick Saban Fires off 2 Words at Fans Clamoring for Spring Football

After getting brief playing time under coach Nick Saban as a redshirt freshman, Mac Jones was pressed into service as the starting quarterback two-thirds of the way through the 2019 season after Tua Tagovailoa was lost for the year due to an injury.

Jones went 10-for-12 for 275 yards and three touchdowns against Western Carolina in his first start, but Alabama lost to Auburn the following week despite his 26-for-39 performance. For the season, Jones was 97-for-141 for 1,503 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Jones got off to a flying start in 2020. After the Crimson Tide beat Missouri in the opener, Jones recorded three straight 400-yard days against Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Georgia. He moved the Tide to 5-0 on Oct. 24 by throwing for 387 yards in the 48-17 rout of Tennessee. He finished the contest 25-for-31 to raise his season completion percentage to 78.8%.

Mac Jones dabbled in coaching a sorority team

RELATED: Nick Saban Fires off 2 Words at Fans Clamoring for Spring Football

The 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide season wasn’t the only time that Mac Jones followed in the footsteps of Tua Tagovailoa. Jones coached a sorority intramural team in the fall of 2018 that Tagovailoa had helped guide the previous season.

Jones was working with the women of Zeta Tau Alpha during his redshirt freshman season behind Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts on the depth chart. Practices ran for about an hour on Sunday nights, and the season concluded with a championship.

According to Al.com, Jones took the responsibility seriously enough that he doubled the size of the ZTA playbook and gave his quarterback a wristband with the plays list so he could signal in the calls from the sideline.

One other indication that Jones was serious about his work: He was ejected from a game for being too vocal and had to watch the remainder of the win from the parking lot.

Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.