UMass Lowell Athletics

Andy Jones completed his seventh season with the River Hawk Hockey program in 2021-22, his fourth as associate head coach. He joined the staff in August of 2015 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach prior to the start of the 2018-19 season.
 
In total, Jones has spent 20 years coaching at various levels. During that time, seventeen of his former players have appeared in the NHL, including seven defenseman, including; Chad Ruhwedel, Jordan Oesterle, Jamie Oleksiak, Zach Redmond, Stu Bickel, Conor Allen and Michael Kapla.

Since arriving in Lowell, Jones has been heavily involved with both player and leadership development. He directly overseas the development of the defensive core and works with the penalty kill unit. During his tenure, the River Hawks have consistently been among Hockey East’s stingiest teams. This past season UMass Lowell finished second in Hockey East and fifth in the nation, surrendering just 2.1 goals per game. The team also led the league and finished third in the nation in short handed goals.

Before arriving in Lowell, Jones spent four seasons at Clarkson University as an assistant coach. In 2013-14, he helped lead the Golden Knights to their best overall record in seven seasons, reaching 21 wins. His primary responsibilities included recruiting and player development. Jones recruited Nico Sturm, who went onto earn First-Team All-American status with Clarkson and sign a free agent contract with the Minnesota Wild.
 
Before arriving in Potsdam, Jones spent five seasons as the assistant coach for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the Unites States Hockey League. Jones worked with the team’s defensemen and guided the Stampede to a .620 winning percentage in his time, including the 2007 Clark Cup Championship. Jones also helped create a unique leadership development program that produced college captains at twice the rate of other teams in the league.
 
In 2009, Jones had the opportunity to represent his country as a member of the World Junior A Challenge in Summerside, PEI. Jones was an assistant coach on the Gold Medal winning team.
 
Jones played both hockey and baseball at Amherst College and served as captain of the hockey team his senior year. He graduated from Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2000. He also earned a Masters of Business Administration from the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management in 2004.
 
Originally from Minnesota, Jones resides in Nashua, NH with his wife Tracy and daughters, Acadia and Maya.