NEW HAVEN, Conn. – James Jones, the Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Men's Basketball, was a recipient of the prestigious Gold Key Award, and received the honor at the 83^rd Gold Key banquet which took place at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on Sunday, May 17.
 
"I'm honored and humbled to be amongst such an outstanding group of athletes, coaches and those in sport media," said Jones.
 
Each year, the CSMA hosts an annual Gold Key dinner to recognize men and women who have made a significant contribution and or have achieved excellence on the field of athletics as a player, coach or administrator.
 
Regarded as the highest sports award in the state, the Gold Key has been presented to more than 200 men and women including baseball manager Connie Mack (1940), boxer Willie Pep (1961), Walt Dropo (1975), President George H.W. Bush (1991), NHL legend Gordie Howe (1992), Hall of Fame basketball coaches Geno Auriemma (2001) and Jim Calhoun (2003) and U.S. women's soccer star Kristine Lilly (2012).
 
In addition to Jones, the honorees included former Masuk High School and Louisiana State University softball pitcher Rachele Fico, former Stratford High School football star and Super Bowl champion Nick Giaquinto, World Series champion pitching coach Dave Wallace and NCAA, WNBA and Olympic champion Kara Wolters.
 
Jones, Yale's all-time winningest coach, has compiled 442 career victories, including 236 in Ivy League play, the second-most in league history. This season, he has guided the Bulldogs to a 24–7 overall record, the most wins in the program's modern era, and an 11–3 Ivy League mark, securing their second consecutive league title and the eighth under his leadership. Under Jones, Yale has recorded at least 10 Ivy League wins in 11 seasons and has finished fourth or higher in the conference for an impressive 25 consecutive years. Over the past seven seasons, he has consistently led the program to Ivy League success, capturing either the regular-season title, the tournament championship, or both each year. The Bulldogs' accomplishments under Jones also include four Ivy League Tournament championships, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and 10 total postseason berths, including the NIT this season.