Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 17, 1990                   TAG: 9004170227
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

HOLLAND: 'HE'S BEEN A COACH ALL ALONG'

Terry Holland, the man whom Jones succeeds as Virginia coach, was 27 when he was named to head Davidson's program in 1969.

Like Jones, Holland wasn't the first choice for the job, riding to the rescue when Larry Brown resigned after six weeks.

Also, like Jones, Holland faced questions about his lack of experience as a head coach.

"I think that's a legitimate question," Holland said. "He has no head-coaching experience. What does that mean? Certainly there is a difference in being an assistant and being a head coach. It's not a substantial difference. I never had any head-coaching experience when I took over at Davidson, lo those many years ago.

"I was younger and had not had the benefit of the kind of experience he's had. He's well qualified to do it, certainly much better qualified than I was. He's been a coach all along. He's never been just a recruiter. The only thing he hasn't had is a chance to call the shots himself."

Jones would probably settle for the kind of first season Holland had at Davidson, where the 1969-70 Wildcats team went 22-5 and won the Southern Conference tournament. Or, he wouldn't mind duplicating his father's success at Kentucky Wesleyan, which won the Division II national championship in Bob Jones' first year.

Jones takes over a Virginia program that is at full strength with the return of the top seven scorers from a team that finished the season 22-11. The Cavaliers signed two promising recruits in November and probably will announce the signing of Cornel Parker from Fork Union Military Academy later this week.

Fork Union coach Fletcher Arritt said Monday that Parker, Group AAA co-player of the year in 1989 for Maury High in Norfolk, signed a letter-of-intent Monday with Virginia. It will become official when his mother adds her signature.

"I think the only way he wouldn't have gone to Virginia was if Jeff Jones had gone somewhere else as an assistant," Arritt said. "Jeff can recruit. He's been doing it, ain't he? I think most people would tell you Cornel Parker is a blue-chipper."

Jones was the primary contact with Bryant Stith, the UVa sophomore who was named first-team All-ACC this past season.

"At times, it seemed like people around campus knew as much - or more - than we did," said Stith, one of a half-dozen or more UVa players who attended the news conference. "This is something we can live with. I think everybody will be happy now.

"My main concern, when I heard Coach Holland was leaving, was that someone would come in and change the whole program. It would be like starting over. I do expect some changes, but not anything drastic."

Point guard John Crotty, who is on the verge of breaking Jones' school record for career assists, also applauded the choice.

"Taking a selfish point of view, with one year left to play, I was worried not just about style, but about any changes," Crotty said. "It would probably have been a tough adjustment. There would have been a lot of maybes."

Crotty's biggest adjustment now will be in what to call Jones.

"Coach Holland has been more of a father figure," Crotty said. "Jeff Jones has always been somebody I've referred to as J.J. or Jeff. It's strange, but I know I still have the same kind of respect for Jeff Jones that I have for Coach Holland."