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{{Short description|American football player, coach, and administrator (1895–1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Biff Jones
| image = L. M. "Biff" Jones.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Jones from 1941 ''Cornhusker''
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1895|10|8}}
| birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|2|12|1895|10|8}}
| death_place = [[Chevy Chase, Maryland]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1915–1917
| player_team1 = [[Army Black Knights football|Army]]
| player_positions = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Tackle]]
| coach_years1 = 1923–1925
| coach_team1 = [[Army Black Knights football|Army]] (line)
| coach_years2 = 1926–1929
| coach_team2 = Army
| coach_years3 = 1932–1934
| coach_team3 = [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]]
| coach_years4 = 1935–1936
| coach_team4 = [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]
| coach_years5 = 1937–1941
| coach_team5 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]
| admin_years1 = 1931–1932
| admin_team1 = [[Army Black Knights|Army]] (Asst. AD)
| admin_years2 = 1935–1936
| admin_team2 = [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]]
| admin_years3 = 1937–1942
| admin_team3 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers|Nebraska]]
| admin_years4 = 1942–1947
| admin_team4 = [[Army Black Knights|Army]]
| overall_record = 87–33–15
| bowl_record = 0–1
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 1 [[Southern Conference|SoCon]] (1932)<br>2 [[Big Eight Conference|Big Six]] (1937, 1940)
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
| CFBHOF_year = 1954
| CFBHOF_id = 1500
}}
'''Lawrence McCeney''' "'''Biff'''" '''Jones''' (October 8, 1895 – February 12, 1980) was an American [[college football]] player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as a head coach at the [[United States Military Academy]], [[Louisiana State University]] (LSU), the [[University of Oklahoma]], and the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]], compiling a career coaching record of 87–33–15. Jones was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as a coach in 1954.

==Early life==
Jones grew up in [[Washington, D.C.]] and attended [[Cardozo Education Campus|Central High School]].<ref name="Retire" /> He played tackle and guard at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point from 1914 to 1916. He was slated to be captain of the [[1917 Army Cadets football team]], but early graduation prevented him from playing that year. Jones served as an artillery lieutenant in France during the rest of [[World War I]] and after the war was stationed with [[6th Field Artillery Regiment]] at [[Aberdeen Proving Ground|Fort Hoyle, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Biff Jones Chose Coach of the Army Football Team |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ua8gAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA8&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Lewiston Daily Sun |date=January 12, 1926}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
[[File:Biff Jones circa 1926.jpg|thumb|Jones, circa 1926]]

Jones returned to West Point in 1923 as an assistant under head football coach [[John McEwan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=West Point Names Football Coaches |work=The New York Times |date=May 8, 1923}}</ref> When McEwan left for [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]] after the 1925 season, Jones was promoted to head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=Name "Biff" Jones As Army Grid Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R9ooAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA4&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Berkeley Daily Gazette |date=December 31, 1925}}</ref> He served for four years as head coach of the Cadet football team, then was assigned by the Army to [[United States Army Field Artillery School]] at [[Fort Sill|Fort Sill, Oklahoma]]. He returned to West Point in 1931 as assistant athletic director, with the expectation that he would succeed [[Philip Bracken Fleming]] the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biff Jones To Be New Athletic Director |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSVJAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Norwalk Hour |date=July 9, 1931}}</ref> However, Jones decided to return to coaching and in January 1932 signed a contract with [[Louisiana State University]] to coach the [[LSU Tigers football]] team. He was allowed to retain his rank in the United States Army and served as a [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] instructor at the school.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sport Slants |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CksAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Times Daily |date=January 29, 1932}}</ref>

Jones was head coach at LSU for three seasons, and led the team to a [[Southern Conference]] Championship in [[1932 LSU Tigers football team|1932]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=LSU Year-by-Year Records |url=http://www.lsusports.net/fls/5200/assets/docs/fb/pdf/17guide.pdf |access-date=2018-07-29 |publisher=lsusports.net |page=107 |archive-date=2018-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120040/http://www.lsusports.net/fls/5200/assets/docs/fb/pdf/17guide.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> He resigned after the [[1934 LSU Tigers football team|1934 season]] after a heated exchange with noted LSU supporter, Louisiana [[United States Senate|senator]] [[Huey P. Long]].{{sfn|Vincent|2008|p=49}} In the last game of the season, Long was displeased after the team had lost two straight games and was trailing at halftime to [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]]. Long decided to give a motivational speech to the team at halftime, but was turned away by Jones at the locker room door.{{sfn|Vincent|2008|p=48}} The ensuing argument ended with Jones declaring to resign, effective at the end of the game.{{sfn|Vincent|2008|p=49}} LSU won the game 14–13.

Following his resignation, Jones was a highly-sought coaching candidate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Colleges Want Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m55ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA135&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Rochester Evening Journal |date=December 19, 1934}}</ref> In April 5, 1935, Jones was hired by the University of Oklahoma and the [[United States Department of War]] approved his transfer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oklahoma Gets Capt. Biff Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wtRXAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=April 5, 1935}}</ref> Jones coached the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]] during the 1935 and 1936 seasons and taught classes in military science.<ref name="NFF">[{{College Football HoF/url|id=1500}} "Lawrence 'Biff' Jones." National Football Foundation Member Biography.] Accessed March 10, 2016.</ref> On November 18, 1936, the Army transferred Jones to the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]] at [[Fort Leavenworth]], which ended his tenure at Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Appointment for Biff Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWBgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA63&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Rochester Journal |date=November 18, 1936}}</ref>

Rather than leave coaching, Jones chose to retire from the Army. He was released from active duty on February 11, 1937, retiring with the rank of [[Major (United States)|major]]. This allowed him to accept the head coaching position with the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska Cornhuskers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Biff Jones To Take Nebraska Gridiron Post |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dSFBAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Portsmouth Times |date=February 11, 1937}}</ref> Jones remained at Nebraska for five years a tallied a 28–14–4 mark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.huskers.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5ghdVXN4P?url=http://www.huskers.com//pdf7/134543.pdf |archive-date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> He led Nebraska to its first [[bowl game]], the [[1941 Rose Bowl]], and also coached the [[1939 Nebraska vs. Kansas State football game|second-ever televised college football game]].

==Later life==
In 1942, Jones left Nebraska to become athletic director at West Point.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jones Returns To West Point |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rJFRAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=January 24, 1942}}</ref> He retired in 1948 and chose to return to the [[Washington metropolitan area|DC area]].<ref name="Retire">{{cite news |title=Biff Jones Out At West Point |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXhWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15&dq |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 29, 1947}}</ref>

Biff Jones died February 13, 1980, at his home in [[Chevy Chase, Maryland]]. His wife had died in 1978.<ref name="WaPo">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/02/13/lawrence-biff-jones-84-football-star-coach-dies/9d462d4a-d748-47fb-9da7-60d1cad6e4a5/ "Lawrence (Biff) Jones, 84 Football Star, Coach Dies." ''Washington Post''. February 13, 1980.] Accessed March 10, 2016.</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = AP }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Army Black Knights football|Army Cadets]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1926
 | endyear   = 1929
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1926 college football season|1926]]
 | name         = [[1926 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
 | overall      = 7–1–1
 | conference   = 
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1927 college football season|1927]]
 | name         = [[1927 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
 | overall      = 9–1
 | conference   = 
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1928 college football season|1928]]
 | name         = [[1928 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
 | overall      = 8–2
 | conference   = 
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1929 college football season|1929]]
 | name         = [[1929 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
 | overall      = 6–4–1
 | conference   = 
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Army
 | overall    = 30–8–2
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[LSU Tigers football|LSU Tigers]]
 | conf      = [[Southern Conference]]
 | startyear = 1932
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[1932 college football season|1932]]
 | name         = [[1932 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]]
 | overall      = 6–3–1
 | conference   = 4–0
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[LSU Tigers football|LSU Tigers]]
 | conf      = [[Southeastern Conference]]
 | startyear = 1933
 | endyear   = 1934
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1933 college football season|1933]]
 | name         = [[1933 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]]
 | overall      = 7–0–3
 | conference   = 3–0–2
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1934 college football season|1934]]
 | name         = [[1934 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]]
 | overall      = 7–2–2
 | conference   = 4–2
 | confstanding = 4th
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = LSU
 | overall    = 20–5–6
 | confrecord = 11–2–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]]
 | conf      = [[Big Eight Conference|Big Six Conference]]
 | startyear = 1935
 | endyear   = 1936
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1935 college football season|1935]]
 | name         = [[1935 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 6–3
 | conference   = 3–2
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1936 college football season|1936]]
 | name         = [[1936 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 3–3–3
 | conference   = 1–2–2
 | confstanding = 4th
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Oklahoma
 | overall    = 9–6–3
 | confrecord = 4–4–3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska Cornhuskers]]
 | conf      = [[Big Eight Conference|Big Six Conference]]
 | startyear = 1937
 | endyear   = 1941
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[1937 college football season|1937]]
 | name         = [[1937 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
 | overall      = 6–1–2
 | conference   = 3–0–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | ranking      = 11
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1938 college football season|1938]]
 | name         = [[1938 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
 | overall      = 3–5–1
 | conference   = 2–3
 | confstanding = T–3rd
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1939 college football season|1939]]
 | name         = [[1939 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
 | overall      = 7–1–1
 | conference   = 4–1
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | ranking      = 18
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[1940 college football season|1940]]
 | name         = [[1940 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
 | overall      = 8–2
 | conference   = 5–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = [[1941 Rose Bowl|Rose]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 7
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1941 college football season|1941]]
 | name         = [[1941 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
 | overall      = 4–5
 | conference   = 3–2
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Nebraska
 | overall    = 28–14–4
 | confrecord = 17–6–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 87–33–15
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = 
 | polltype = Rankings from final [[AP Poll]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Vincent |first=Herb |title=LSU Football Vault: The History of the Fighting Tigers |date=2008 |publisher=Whitman Publishing, LLC |isbn=978-0794824280}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1500}}

{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Oklahoma Sooners athletic director navbox}}
{{Oklahoma Sooners football coach navbox}}
{{Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic director navbox}}
{{Nebraska Cornhuskers football coach navbox}}
{{Army Black Knights athletic director navbox}}
{{Army Black Knights football coach navbox}}
{{LSU Tigers football coach navbox}}
{{1916 Army Cadets football navbox}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Biff}}
[[Category:1895 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:American football tackles]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights athletic directors]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights football players]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights football coaches]]
[[Category:LSU Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners athletic directors]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners football coaches]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic directors]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football coaches]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Washington, D.C.]]