He wasn't around long.
However, his impact was profound.
Butch Jones donned the title of head coach at Central Michigan for just three seasons. In that time, his teams won 27 games, including 22 in the Mid-American Conference, as well as a pair of conference titles.
He would leap to Cincinnati in 2010 after guiding the Chippewas to their second MAC championship victory in three seasons. That 2009 season saw Jones lead his team to its best finish in school history, closing the year with an 12-2 record and the first national ranking at the Division I level in school history.
Jones appeared on "The Coach Mac Podcast," hosted by Central Michigan football and basketball play by play man Adam Jaksa and current football coach Jim McElwain Thursday to discuss his time with the Chippewas and how it shaped his career (Full episode HERE). Currently an assistant at Alabama, Jones' son Adam is a redshirt freshman receiver with the Chippewas.
With Jones discussing the effect that the program had on him, it's relevant to ask - what impact did he have on the program?
Replacing Brian Kelly, who had led the Chippewas to their first MAC title since 1994 and promptly left for Cincinnati, Jones was a first time head coach looking for an opportunity to build his personal brand as a head coach. Jones had spent seven seasons at Central Michigan in a variety of offensive roles and was returning as head coach following a two-year stint as the wide receivers coach at West Virginia.
"Just the exposure of coaching the different positions really helps you," Jones told McElwain on the podcast. "Having the exposure of coaching different type kids at different positions and just having the broad background offensively I think really serves you well."
Conference reign lasts throughout tenure
Jones set a tone of dominance in year one. Though the Chippewas struggled through a loaded nonconference slate littered with Power Five schools such as Clemson, Purdue and Kansas, a 6-1 mark in the conference led the team to a West Division title and an appearance in the MAC championship game.
That team was led by then-sophomore Dan LeFevour, who became the second quarterback in NCAA history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for an additional 1,000, joining former Texas quarterback Vince Young. In the 2007 MAC title game, LeFevour delivered a vintage performance and the Chippewas rolled Miami (Ohio) 35-10.
The following year, the pieces on the team continued to grow as Jones began to build a monster. LeFevour garnered national recognition with another ridiculous season while Antonio Brown, who was named a first-team All-American the season prior by the Football Writers Association, and fellow receiver Brian Anderson became the best tandem in the conference.
However, Jones and company ended the season with a sour taste in their mouths. They finished with three consecutive losses, including a 56-52 shootout defeat at the hands of Eastern Michigan, the only team in the MAC to defeat a Jones-coached team more than once. Ball State also got the best of the Chippewas that season, claiming a 31-24 win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in front of a national audience.
The loss to Eastern would be Jones' last within the conference.
Ironically, when Jones returned to Kelly/Shorts last fall to watch Adam and his teammates, the opponent was Eastern Michigan. Jones was presumably pleased with the result, watching the Chippewas deliver a 42-16 drubbing to their in-state rivals.
Speaking with McElwain on the podcast, Jones praised the Mount Pleasant community and the family atmosphere within the town. He added that many residents and old friends reach out to Adam to offer assistance whenever they can.
"(It was) a lot different," Jones said of returning to Central Michigan as a fan. "It was definitely unique. I wish we had more time because there were so many people to see."
Though his first two seasons were solid, it was his third and final year that etched his name into Chippewa lore.
With nearly an entire nucleus of skill players returning, Jones and company tore through the MAC unblemished. Playing in just one one-score game during the conference slate, the 2009 group stands even with only Herb Deromedi's 1979 Division II national championship squad on the pinnacle of Chippewa football history.
An untold story from a historic upset
The crowning moment of Jones' era arguably came in week two of that season.
After a 19-6 loss at Arizona the week prior, Jones took his team into Spartan Stadium for a matchup with Michigan State. Though the Chippewas were overlooked, Jones wanted to make it clear that if they pulled it out, he would not view it as an upset.
"We had the mentality when we were there that we were by far the best college football program in the state of Michigan," Jones said. "We didn't take a back seat to anybody and I'm talking the Michigan State's, the University of Michigan's, that was kind of a mentality that we had."
Coaching in the wake of his father's death, Jones inspired his team with his presence in the face of tragedy. After battling tooth and nail for 59 minutes, the Chippewas failed what would've been a go-ahead two-point conversion attempt. However, Anderson recovered the ensuing onside kick and helped put the Chippewas in a position to win the game with a field goal.
Jones pulled his late father's police identification band out of his pocket and showed it to the team during Michigan State's final timeout. Moments before senior kicker Andrew Aguila was set to attempt the biggest kick of his career, Jones approached him with advice.
"Open your hand," Jones demanded calmly.
Aguila did so. In it, Jones placed the identification badge.
"All you've got to do is kick it, and dad will take care of the rest," Jones instructed.
Aguila's kick sailed through the uprights, and Jones was carried off the field and into history.
NOTE: You can hear the whole story from Jones starting at the 35:43 mark of the podcast.
Lasting legacy
Jones accepted the head coach position at Cincinnati following the Chippewas MAC title game victory over Ohio. Interim coach Steve Stripling coached the Chippewas to a GMAC Bowl victory over Troy, cementing the 2009 team's legacy.
Jones produced two NFL draft picks in Brown and LeFevour as well as a pair of CFL draft picks in safety Eric Fraser and offensive tackle Greg Wojt. Several others, including linebacker Nick Bellore, defensive end Frank Zombo and defensive backs Josh Gordy and Jahleel Addae were able to carve out solid NFL careers after going undrafted.
He took the seeds planted by Kelly and turned them into a garden of talent. He produced a product that is responsible for Central Michigan's return to football prominence.
The man he spoke with on Thursday's podcast, McElwain, has the program back on the rise after last season's 8-6 finish. That record, identical to Jones' in his first season, can only be a hopeful reminder as well as a signal of hope for things to come for Chippewa faithful.
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