Neil Warren Jones

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Neil Jones
Replace
Personal information
Full name Neil Warren Jones
Date of birth February 16, 1982 (1982-02-16) (age 26)
Place of birth    Takapuna, New Zealand
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position Striker/Central Defender
Club information
Current club UC Santa Barbara
Youth clubs
2001–2004 UC Santa Barbara
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2004
2005
2005
2006		 Cape Cod Crusaders
Queensland Roar FC
East Coast Bays
Kuala Lumpur FA		 09 (3)
00 (0)   
National team2
1999


2004		 New Zealand U17
New Zealand U20
New Zealand U23
New Zealand		 03 (0)


02 (1)
Teams managed
2006– UC Santa Barbara (assistant)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 03:14, 6 June 2008 (PDT).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 03:14, 6 June 2008 (PDT).
* Appearances (Goals)

Neil Warren "Jonesy" Jones (born 16 February 1982, in Takapuna, New Zealand) is a New Zealander collegiate soccer assistant coach who is currently with the University of California, Santa Barbara Men's Soccer team. He is a former member of the New Zealand national team.

Contents

[edit] Amateur Career

[edit] Pre-UCSB

Neil Jones saw time with many clubs while in New Zealand. Rangitoto (Juniors), East Coast Bays, Dunedin Technical, Waitakere City F.C., and Westlake Boys High School all had Jones as a team member.

[edit] At UCSB

Jones transferred to UC Santa Barbara from University of Otago, whereupon he joined the university's men's soccer team in 2001. As a freshman, Jones played on the defensive line with fellow New Zealand freshman Tony Lochhead. He appeared in 14 games, scoring 3 goals and assisting on another for 7 points. Unfortunately, Jones missed the final 5 games due to injury as the Gauchos went on to win their first ever Big West Conference Championship in program history.

As a sophomore, Jones appeared in 15 games, starting 7 of them. Jones was moved to the offensive line by coach Tim Vom Steeg and he responded by scoring 2 goals while assisting on 3 more for 7 points total. UCSB again won the Big West Championship and made the NCAA Soccer Tournament for the first time in school history, advancing to the second round. Jones made an appearance in the first game, but was an unused sub in the second.

2003 was a breakout year for Neil Jones as he scored 30 points, good for a three-way tie for the team lead with Drew McAthy and Memo Arzate. Neil featured in 21 games, starting 19. He scored 13 goals and added 4 assists. Jones missed out on the Big West title for the first time in his career as rivals Cal State Northridge edged out the Gauchos. However, Jones and the Gauchos advanced to the 3rd round of the NCAA Tournament, setting a new school record. Jones played in both of UCSB's postseason games, having received a First Round bye.

Jones' senior year saw another huge offensive output as the striker netted 10 times and assisted on 8 more for a final point total of 28. He played in 23 games, starting 22 of them as UCSB won a third Big West Championship and advanced all the way to the Championship game in the 2004 Division I Men's College Cup. Held in Carson, California, Jones and the Gauchos took the Indiana Hoosiers to penalties before finally bowing out. Tragically for Jones, his penalty sailed just high of the crossbar, but the team's showing was the best Gaucho performance in their history to that point.

[edit] Professional Career

Neil Jones' professional career was short lived. While on a trial in Norway, Jones broke his leg which delayed his opportunities to show his skill to potential suitors.[1] Jones bounced back and eventually signed a contract with Queensland Roar FC of the A-League.[2] Unfortunately, Jones was unable to find his way on to the opening day roster and never competed in a league game for Queensland.

Jones didn't give up though, spending the rest of the 2005 season with New Zealand side East Coast Bays. He spent the next season with Kuala Lumpur FA of the Malaysia Premier League before calling it a career.

[edit] International Career

Neil has represented New Zealand at the U17, U20, U23, and Senior International squads.[3] As a member of the New Zealand U17 team, Jones competed in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in New Zealand. He appeared in all 3 games Group A games, but New Zealand failed to advance.

As a member of the New Zealand national team, known as the All Whites, Jones collected his only 2 caps (1 goal) in 2004 in New Zealand's 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

[edit] Coaching Career

Neil Jones was added to the UC Santa Barbara coaching staff on 22 March 2006.[4] He was given the title of "Second Full Time Assistant Coach", under head coach Tim Vom Steeg and First Assistant Greg Wilson. In his first year as assistant coach during the 2006 season, the Gauchos surpassed his 2004 team by winning the NCAA Championship at the 2006 Division I Men's College Cup in St. Louis, Missouri. With Jones as an assistant coach, the Gauchos have never failed to win the Big West Championship.

[edit] External links