Old Dominion coach recruits his bloodline

Old Dominion coach Jeff Jones, then an assistant at Virginia, began recruiting Bryant Stith when he was just a freshman at Brunswick High School in the mid-1980s.

That pursuit of the ultra-talented guard is still paying dividends for Jones today.

Stith, who went on to become the leading scorer in Virginia history and play in the NBA, is an assistant coach for the Monarchs. His son Brandan is the team’s best frontcourt player.

Another son, B.J., is sitting out this season after transferring from Virginia and will be a sophomore next year.

“It’s great. I’ve known (Bryant) a long, long time and have the utmost respect for him. I was thrilled to have him join our staff here,” Jones said after Old Dominion’s 75-59 win over Tennessee Tech in the first round of the Vegas 16 at Mandalay Bay on Monday. “There was really little or no mention of either of the boys coming. As it has turned out, it’s been great.

“They’re outstanding basketball players and will be outstanding contributors for us the next couple years, but I think the thing that’s really cool for me is it’s just a great family and to have them such a big part of what we’re trying to do is really special.”

The Monarchs will play UC Santa Barbara, a 70-63 winner over Northern Illinois, in today’s first semifinal at 6 p.m. Oakland got 27 points and seven rebounds from star point guard Kay Felder in a 90-72 win over Towson. The Golden Grizzlies will play East Tennessee State, an 88-83 winner over Louisiana Tech in Monday’s late game, today at 8:30.

Both games will air live on CBS Sports Network.

Bryant Stith reunited with Jones when the latter took over at Old Dominion in 2013. Stith had won three consecutive state titles as head coach of his alma mater, largely on the strength of his two sons. Brandan and B.J. both started their collegiate careers elsewhere before transferring to play for Jones and their dad.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Stith said. “I had an opportunity to coach both of them in high school. Having the chance to do it at this level has been such a rewarding experience for me. I missed out on a lot of those precious moments when they were young and I was playing in the NBA. To be able to recapture some of those here at this stage in their life has been extremely gratifying to me.”

It has worked out pretty well for Jones, too. Not only does he have a familiar face who has succeeded on the court at the highest level to help mentor his players, but one very good player and another on the way.

Unfortunately for Jones, who became the head coach at Virginia during Stith’s junior season, there are no more Stiths on the way.

“Unfortunately, Brandan’s sisters, Bria and Brook, are track athletes,” Jones laughed. “They’ve both signed track scholarships to go to college, so they won’t be playing for us.”

Brandan Stith would most likely welcome the company. The 6-foot-7-inch sophomore, who averaged 10.6 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for the Monarchs this season, loves having his family around.

“It’s been a great year,” he said after posting eight points and seven rebounds in Old Dominion’s win on Monday. “ B.J.’s back in town. My dad is coaching. It’s just like it was back in high school. It’s awesome.”

He admitted there are times he talks to his brother about what it will be like when the Virginia transfer is eligible to play next season, but said he’s also been a big help both as emotional support and on the scout team.

“They’re best friends,” Bryant Stith said of his sons. “To be able to have your best friend in that foxhole with you is so special. They’ve been through battles together ever since rec leagues. To be able to play together at the collegiate level next year is going to be so special, not just for them, but for me as a father and a coach.”

While B.J. projects as more of a scoring guard like his dad, Brandan, who started his career at East Carolina, is a completely different player. He anchors the Old Dominion defense and is a ferocious rebounder.

“Brandan has created his own identity. He’s not living off of what I’ve done in the past,” Bryant Stith said. “Brandan is who he is and he has embraced that. He fits that role just fine.”

B.J. had the added burden of attending Virginia out of high school where his dad is a legend.

“There was a lot of pressure on him to perform and perform at a high level,” the coach said. “At the end of the day, I don’t want my kids playing this game trying to live up to the legacy I left, I want them to be able to enjoy the college experience and graduate with a degree and they’re both on that path.”

The Monarchs had a successful season, falling just short of an NCAA bid with a last-minute loss to Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA championship game. Jones and the Stiths hope next year can be even better, even with high-scoring guards Trey Freeman and Aaron Bacote set to graduate.

But Bryant Stith figures to remember far more than the results.

“If there’s anything negative, I haven’t come across it. I love being here to be able to be with them helping them through this journey and I hope they have the same feeling,” he said. “Our relationship has only gotten stronger because all those things I tried to instill in them growing up, they have a great appreciation for those life lessons. It’s so rewarding when they come up to me and give me a hug and say, ‘I love you dad.’

“At the end of the day, that’s better than any win and it can make you forget any loss that I can experience as a coach.”

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.