A Proven Winner in Norfolk
Robert Jones continues to be the driving force behind Norfolk State basketball. The 46-year-old from South Jamaica, Queens, enters his 12th full season leading the Spartans, having built one of the most consistent programs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Since taking over in 2014–15, Jones has amassed a 236-159 overall record and an impressive 135-45 mark in MEAC play. His teams have finished in the top three of the conference standings every season under his watch, and he’s produced four straight 20-win campaigns.
Sustained Success and Recognition
Jones’s leadership has earned Norfolk State five regular-season titles in the last seven years, along with three MEAC Tournament championships. He’s been named MEAC Coach of the Year three times and has also received national honors, including the Hugh Durham Award and Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
The Spartans have reached the NCAA Tournament three times during his tenure, with their lone win coming in 2021, a dramatic 54-53 victory over Appalachian State before falling to top-seeded Gonzaga.
Last season, Norfolk State returned to March Madness but fell to eventual national champion Florida in the opening round, 95-69.
Ready for Another Run
Jones’s 2025–26 squad is again expected to lead the MEAC, earning 12 first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll. Norfolk State is projected ahead of Howard and South Carolina State as the league favorite.
The Spartans open their season on November 3 at home against Washington Adventist, followed by games with Regent and William & Mary. Their first road tests come against Old Dominion on November 11 and Towson on November 14. The non-conference slate also features marquee matchups at Arizona on November 29 and Baylor on December 10.
Building on a Championship Standard
Robert Jones has built Norfolk State into a perennial power defined by discipline, consistency, and pride. With another veteran group in place and championship expectations once again in Norfolk, the Spartans are poised for another memorable season, and potentially another trip to the Big Dance.