LLCC Coach Chad Jones to Enter Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame

Lincoln Land Community College confirmed on November 18 that Chad Jones, head coach of the LLCC Loggers women’s basketball team and a professor of exercise science at the college, has been selected for induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association 2026 Hall of Fame in the Men Women Coaches category. The announcement honors a coaching career that began at LLCC in 2001 and has produced 427 career wins.

Jones led the Loggers to a school record 34 and 3 season, a campaign that included the Mid West Athletic Conference championship, the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament title, and the NJCAA Central District championship. Those achievements form the core of the accomplishments cited in the Hall of Fame selection. Over his tenure Jones has also been named IBCA Women’s NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year for two consecutive seasons, NJCAA Central District Coach of the Year twice, Mid West Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, and NJCAA Region 24 Coach of the Year.

For Morgan County the induction is more than an individual accolade. Jones serves in the classroom as a professor of exercise science, connecting athletic performance with physical health education and collegiate career pathways. That combined role supports student athlete development and underscores the college’s contribution to local public health through promotion of fitness, injury prevention and lifelong healthy behaviors for young people who train and study at LLCC.

Recognition at the state level may also affect program resources and recruitment. Elevated visibility can attract prospective students, increase community engagement at games and events, and reinforce partnerships with local schools and youth programs. For women athletes in Morgan County the honor signals institutional support and a spotlight on competitive opportunities within a community college setting, which can be critical for equitable access to athletics and scholarship pathways.

The IBCA will honor inductees at its Hall of Fame banquet on May 2, 2026 at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus. The ceremony will celebrate coaches statewide whose careers have had sustained impact on players, programs and the sport across Illinois.

Jones’s selection reflects a multi decade commitment to coaching and education at LLCC. As the college and local community prepare for the recognition next spring, the honor represents both competitive success and the broader social value of collegiate athletics in fostering health, leadership and opportunity for young people in Morgan County.