Arkansas State announced a contract extension for head football coach Butch Jones on Thursday afternoon.
Jones contract now runs through the 2026 season as the Red Wolves re-committed to the former Tennessee coach despite a horrendous first season.
“I’ve always said that one of the things that makes Arkansas State University special is its leadership,” Jones said in the release. “Our university administration is extremely supportive and aligned with our commitment to excellence in competition, in the classroom and in the community for all our athletics programs. It’s an honor and privilege to be the head football coach at Arkansas State, so I’m grateful for the continued trust our administration has placed in me to advance our football program.”
After head coach Blake Anderson went 8-5, 8-5 and 4-7 in his final three seasons in Jonesboro, Arkansas State went 2-10 in the first season under Jones’ guidance. The two-win season was the second worst of any first year coach — Arizona’s Fisch went 1-11 — and the program’s worst record since 1994.
Arkansas State is in the midst of great turnover within its university. Former Alabama assistant Jeff Purrinton became athletic director within the last month and the school is searching for a new chancellor.
Jones came to Jonesboro after three years as an off the field assistant at Alabama and five years as the head coach at Tennessee.
The Red Wolves begin year two of the Jones era on Sept. 3 against Grambling State. The manageable season opener sets the stage for back-to-back road trips to Ohio State and Memphis.
