Robert Jones Position: Director of Equipment Operations Department: Equipment

Robert Jones presently serves as UCF's Director of Equipment Operations and has held that post since 2002. His equipment staff proudly oversees all of the equipment needs and maintenance for UCF's 16 varsity athletics programs and approximately 500 student-athletes.

Jones, a certified member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA), has operated one of the top equipment staffs in Conference USA, resulting in the league's Equipment Staff of the Year in 2006. Within the AEMA, Jones has also been active, authoring the first AEMA certification manual on inventory as well as three articles published in the AEMA Journal.

A graduate of Carson Newman College, Jones was the national promotion director for BIKE Athletic prior to his tenure at UCF from 2001-02. From 1993-2000, Jones served the University of Louisville equipment office, the final three seasons at the director of equipment working with head coach John L. Smith. He began his tenure at UL at the football equipment manager and facilities director from 1993-97, under head coaches Howard Schnellenberger and Ron Cooper.

Jones spent the 1987-93 seasons as the football equipment manager at Purdue University under head coaches Fred Akers and Jim Colleto. Prior to his time with Purdue, Jones worked two seasons, 1985-87, with Northwestern University athletics as an assistant equipment manager under Coaches Dennis Green and Francis Peay.

At Carson Newman College, as a student manager, he was a part of two National Championships in 1983-84. His first professional role in the equipment department was as an Assistant equipment manager with the Orlando Renegades of the USFL in 1985, under legendary coach Lee Corso.