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OSU Athletics
Associate AD Bill Jones Passes Away at Age 48
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It is with a heavy heart that Ohio State moves into the next era of its football program.

The OSU athletic department lost another beloved member Tuesday as associate athletic director Bill Jones passed away of an apparent heart attack this morning. The son of former Ohio State’s athletics director Jim Jones was only 48.

A Columbus native who earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Ohio State in 1986 and a master's of sports administration from Ohio University in 1991, Jones was in his 14th year with the Ohio State Department of Athletics.

He was in charge of ticketing for the Buckeyes.

“We have lost a dear friend, a wonderful co-worker and a great ambassador for Ohio State,” Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith said in a statement.

“His genuine enthusiasm, calm demeanor and lifelong love for the Buckeyes made him a valuable part of every project he touched.”

His untimely passing comes not long after the saddening deaths of former Ohio State quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels and Jean Bruce, the late wife of former OSU head coach Earle Bruce.

“Our family is in shock today,” Smith added.

“Our loss is a profound one. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Jones family in this time of sadness and loss.”

Jones joined the Ohio State athletics staff in 1998 as the assistant director of premium seating and moved to director of premium seating the following year. He assumed management of the ticket office in 2006 and was promoted to assistant athletics director for ticketing in February, 2007.

He had currently been serving as the associate athletics director for external affairs under Smith since 2009.

After graduating from Ohio State in 1986, Jones immediately went  to work in the business world for Janssen Pharmaceutical from 1987-90, earning recognition for being one of the Top 5 sales reps in the country.

He quickly turned to sports, however, as the director of operations and media for the PGA's Memorial Tournament. He held that position from 1991-98, and also served as the tournament director of an LPGA event in Pinehurst, N.C., and as the tournament director for the Diner's Club Matches in La Quinta, Calif.

He returned to his alma mater in 1998 and had been with the Buckeyes ever since.

Jones is survived by his parents, Jim (Ohio State’s athletics director from 1987-94) and Linda Jones, and a sister, Lynnae.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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