Coaching Staff
Coaching Staff
Chris Jones
Michael Salinas
Defensive Line/JV | Second Season
Special Teams/WR | First Season
Chris Jones, a former all-American football player at Hardin-Simmons, is in his second season as the defensive line and junior varsity coach.
Mike Salinas is in his first season as the special team’s coordinator and wide receivers coach at Hardin-Simmons.
Jones helped lead a defensive line that produced American Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Hank Hornsby, in 2010.
The Jones File
Born Jan. 23, 1985 Hometown Brownwood, Texas High School Brownwood College Hardin-Simmons BS, Fitness, Sport and Leisure
Jones never missed a game as a player as he started 22 straight games and played in 41 straight contests. He had 22.5 career tackles for loss, nine sacks and 126 career tackles from his defensive tackle position. He was a two-time all-ASC selection and was named a second-team All-American and first-team all-South region as a senior.
Year Position School
Jones is a native of Brownwood and has a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons in sports, fitness and leisure and is working to complete his master’s degree.
2003 Player 2004 Player 2005 Player 2006 Player 2007 St. Asst. 2008 Grad Asst. 2009 Grad Asst. 2010 D-Line/JV 2011 D-Line/JV
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Jones, who spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a graduate assistant at Sam Houston State, came back to HSU to coach a position he patrolled for four seasons for the Cowboys. He spent the 2007 season as a graduate assistant at HSU after a stellar four-year career as a defensive lineman. He claimed two American Southwest Conference titles in his playing career at HSU.
Hardin-Simmons Hardin-Simmons Hardin-Simmons Hardin-Simmons Hardin-Simmons Sam Houston St. Sam Houston St. Hardin-Simmons Hardin-Simmons
Salinas returns to the collegiate game after spending the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Harlingen South High School.
The Salinas File
Born Hometown High School College Wife
June 3, 1979 Edinburg, Texas Edinburg Texas A&M-Kingsville 1999, BS, kinesiology and health Former Lesley Zambrano
Year Position School 1996 Player TAMU-Kingsville 1997 Player TAMU-Kingsville 1998 Player TAMU-Kingsville 1999 Player TAMU-Kingsville 2000 Assistant Coach C.C. Flour Bluff 2001 Defensive Coordinator Robstown 2002 Secondary Coach TAMU-Kingsville 2003 Secondary Coach TAMU-Kingsville 2004 Secondary Coach TAMU-Kingsville rn 2005 Defensive Coordinator West Texas A&M 2006 ST/Secondary Sam Houston St. 2007 ST/Secondary Sam Houston St. 2008 ST/Secondary Sam Houston St. 2009 Defensive Coordinator Harlingen South 2010 Defensive Coordinator Harlingen South 2011 ST Coordinator/WR Hardin-Simmons
Prior to that stint, he served three years as the special teams and secondary coach at Sam Houston State. He coached Derrick Harris to All-American honors as a kick returner at SHSU. Prior to joining Todd Whitten’s staff at Sam Houston in 2006, Salinas helped lead West Texas A&M to the 2005 Lone Star Conference championship, serving as the defensive coordinator. Salinas was part of the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division II football as West Texas A&M went from a 2-8 season in 2004 to a 10-2 mark and a No. 15 national ranking. The Buffaloes advanced to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals for the first time in school history. West Texas A&M’s defense forced a leaguehigh 37 turnovers including 23 interceptions. Three Buffs defenders earned All-Lone Star Conference honors and one earned NCAA Division II All-America honors.
Salinas was part of three straight Lone Star champions from 2002-2004 as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M-Kingsville. He coached two All-Americans and six first time All-Conference players as the Javelinas compiled a 30-7 overall record and were ranked in the top five nationally in all three seasons. Both the 2002 and 2003 teams reached the national semifinals. Salinas served as secondary coach and assistant track and field coach at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi. The Hornets were bi-district champions in 2000, making their first playoff appearance in 20 years. He moved to Robstown High School as defensive coordinator and head basketball coach in 2001. Salinas is a graduate of Texas A&M-Kingsville with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health. He was a three-year letterman for the Javelinas. He recently married the former Lesley Zambrano.
The Salinas’
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