The similarities have been striking. Following the same script that paid off 20 years ago when he helped rebuild a downtrodden Central High School football program, Curt Jones has the Purple Pounders poised once again for a revival.
In 2001, Jones took over a program that had suffered through more 1-9 finishes than winning seasons in the 30 years prior to his arrival. After taking more lumps with a young roster, in Jones’ third season the Pounders opened 4-0 for the first time in 20 years on their way to an 8-4 record.
But the youthful Jones left one year later to pursue coaching opportunities with more established programs – among them Notre Dame, where he was the defensive coordinator for the 2017 team that played for the Division II-AA state title – and in his absence the Pounders reverted back to struggling. In a 13-year stretch, they won three or fewer games eight times – including a winless 2015 season in which the team scored seven or fewer points eight times – and had a revolving door of seven head coaches before Jones returned in 2018.
Now, again in his third season – and after suffering through growing pains again with a young roster – Jones has Central standing 3-1 overall and 3-0 in Region 3-4A after last week’s impressive win over perennial power Red Bank.
“It really is sort of scary just how many similarities there are between now and 20 years ago when I was here,” Jones said. “I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be back here and have this second chance to help establish this program again. I’m a very different person and coach than I was that first time, and I’m old enough now to appreciate it more.