Jones was an United States Army major. In 1937, he left the Oklahoma Sooners to coach their rival, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, replacing coach Dana X. Bible. Jones remained at Nebraska for five years a tallied a 28–14–4 mark. He led Nebraska to its first bowl game, the 1941 Rose Bowl, and also coached the second-ever televised college football game. Jones left Nebraska when he was called back to service during World War II.