The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Athletics Department Changes Announced
Aug. 3, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone announced Tuesday that Walker Jones has been selected to fill a newly created position and Tom Luke has been named to fill Jones' previous position.
Jones will now hold the position of Assistant to the Athletics Director for Internal Operations, while Luke will fill the position of Coordinator for Football Operations, which Jones has held for the last year.
"Walker will be assisting me in coordinating all of the many projects that are on-going in the athletics department," Boone said. "Ole Miss is fortunate to have one of its own, a very capable former student-athlete committed to the continuing progress of Ole Miss athletics."
Prior to serving one year in his previous position of Coordinator of Football Operations, Jones had served two years as a graduate assistant for the Rebel football team. His role during the 2001 season was as an administrative graduate assistant before serving as the defensive graduate assistant coach in 2002, working with the defensive secondary as well as special teams.
During his year as Coordinator of Football Operations, Jones' responsibilities included coordinating and supervising on-campus recruiting activities and functions, overseeing initial eligibility evaluation of prospective student-athletes and compiling and maintaining records of walk-ons.
"I appreciate the confidence Pete Boone has shown in me," Jones said. "It's an exciting time to be at Ole Miss, and I look forward to working in the administrative area as we continue to meet the challenges of competing in the Southeastern Conference."
Jones earned four letters while playing at Ole Miss from 1994 to 1997 and was selected as permanent team captain his senior year. He was a member of the M-Club, was selected to the AFCA and SEC Good Works Teams, received the SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship and the Birmingham Alumni Club Leadership Award.
After receiving his Bachelor's degree in May of 1998, he worked as an investment broker for Morgan Keegan Investment Company and served two years on the executive board of the M-Club Alumni Association before returning to Ole Miss.
He is married to the former Bethy Edwards of Lexington, Miss.
Luke, also a former Ole Miss student-athlete, returns to his alma mater after spending the last 12 years teaching and coaching at Jackson Academy.
"I'm real proud to add another former Ole Miss Rebel to our staff," said head coach David Cutcliffe. "Tom has been involved in high school football in Mississippi for the past 12 years. That experience should serve him well in this position, and he brings a lot of expertise, energy, and enthusiasm to our program."
As Coordinator of Football Operations, Luke will coordinate and supervise on-campus recruiting activities and functions, oversee initial eligibility evaluation of prospective student-athletes, compile and maintain records of walk-ons, and coordinate summer camps.
"It feels great being able to come back to Ole Miss," Luke said. "It's also exciting to join Coach Cutcliffe and his staff, and I feel fortunate to be given this opportunity. It also helps that I have a past association with all but two of the assistants, having either played for, played with, or played against them."
Luke earned three letters (1989-91) while playing quarterback at Ole Miss, but suffered three concussions during his career, which led to his decision to pass up his senior year and accept a coaching position on the high school level.
He ended his career ranked 17th in career passing with 1,524 yards, completing 86 of 178 passes with 10 interceptions. At the time, he also ranked 17th in career total offense with 2,078 yards (554 rushing and 1,524 passing).
As a sophomore in 1990, he developed into one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference and shared starting duties with Russ Shows his final two seasons as both battled injuries in the option offensive attack.
His 82-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Ashley against Tennessee in 1991 remains as the second longest in Ole Miss history. Selected Player of the Year in 1990 by the Ole Miss Quarterback Club, Luke also excelled off the field as he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times, while also being named to the Chancellor's Honor Roll, Dean's List, and U.M.A.A. Honor Roll. He also received the NCAA Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award for having the highest grade point average among graduating Ole Miss student-athletes.
After receiving his B.S. degree from Ole Miss in 1992, Luke began teaching and coaching at Jackson Academy. He served as quarterbacks coach the first three years and since 1995 had served as offensive coordinator. During his nine years as offensive coordinator, Jackson Academy won four Mississippi Private School Association state championships and was twice runner-up for the state crown.
He also served as an assistant coach for the Jackson Academy baseball team, working five seasons as pitching coach, and from 1995 to 2001 was the head baseball coach. As head coach, Jackson Academy won two MPSA state championships. He was selected Metro Coach of the Year by The Clarion-Ledger in 1999 when he was also named as MPSA All-Star Coach. He was Mississippi "State Games" Coach in 2000.
Tom is married to the former Angie Pope of Clinton, Miss., also an Ole Miss graduate and former Rebelette in "The Pride of the South" marching band. They are the parents of one son, Cale (9), and two daughters, Carson (7) and Cayden (1).
Tom's father, Tommy, earned three letters in football at Ole Miss (1964-66) and then played one year for the American Football League Denver Broncos. His brother, Matt, also played at Ole Miss (1995-98) and currently serves on Cutcliffe's Ole Miss staff as tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach.