
Columbus Crew Grant Crew 2 Head Coach Kelvin Jones Ability to Pursue Professional Advancement Opportunity
December 10, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release
COLUMBUS - After eight seasons with the Black & Gold, Kelvin Jones has departed the Club to pursue new professional endeavors. Jones, who started with the Club in 2017, was named Crew 2 Head Coach in 2024 after previously leading the Under-12, U-15 and U-19 Academy teams and serving as Academy Director from 2020-23.
"Throughout his time with our Club, Kelvin has been dedicated to developing players and fostering talent," said Columbus Crew General Manager Issa Tall. "The Crew emphasize developing staff, coaches and players, and we are proud to see Kelvin take this next step in his coaching journey. We thank Kelvin for his contributions to the Club and wish him and his family all the best moving forward."
In 2024, Jones led Crew 2 to the Eastern Conference Final despite entering the tournament as a No. 7 seed. The Capybaras defeated Inter Miami CF II, 6-2, in the opening round of the playoffs on Oct. 20 and Chicago Fire FC II, 3-2, in the semifinals on Oct. 27. With an average age of 19.1 years this season, Crew 2 saw 18 unique goal scorers and finished third in MLS NEXT Pro for minutes logged by players under the age of 19.
After becoming Academy Director in summer of 2020, five Crew Academy players signed Homegrown contracts: Isaiah Parente (2021), Sean Zawadzki (2022), Keegan Hughes (2023), Taha Habroune (2024) and Cole Mrowka (2024).
On the international stage, Jones was named an assistant coach for the United States Under-17 Men's Youth National Team for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. During the tournament, the U.S. returned to the knockout stage for the first time since 2017, reaching the Round of 16 before falling to eventual champions Germany.
Jones was the second head coach in Crew 2 history, following the departure of Laurent Courtois to CF Montreal in January.
Major League Soccer Stories from December 10, 2024
- Real Salt Lake Draws Costa Rican Side Herediano for Tuesday February 18 Kickoff of 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup - Real Salt Lake
- Whitecaps FC Draw Deportivo Saprissa to Start 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Inter Miami CF Set to Face Sporting Kansas City in Round One of 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup - Inter Miami CF
- FC Cincinnati Draw FC Motagua in Round One of 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup - FC Cincinnati
- Colorado Rapids to Face LAFC in 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One - Colorado Rapids
- Sporting KC to Play Inter Miami CF in Concacaf Champions Cup - Sporting Kansas City
- LAFC Signs 16-Year-Old Academy Player Jude Terry to Homegrown Contract - Los Angeles FC
- Columbus Crew Grant Crew 2 Head Coach Kelvin Jones Ability to Pursue Professional Advancement Opportunity - Columbus Crew SC
- Real Salt Lake Makes 17 Current / Former Players Eligible to San Diego FC in Wednesday's 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Real Salt Lake
- Revolution Protect 12 Players from 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - New England Revolution
- Notebook: How the FC Cincinnati Faithful Played a Part in a Historic Transfer - FC Cincinnati
- Eligible Player List Revealed for MLS Expansion Draft as San Diego FC to Select up to Five Players on Wednesday - San Diego FC
- St. Louis CITY SC Announces 2024 MLS Expansion Draft Protected List - St. Louis City SC
- Eligible Player Lists Revealed for MLS Expansion Draft as San Diego FC to Select up to Five Players on Wednesday - D.C. United
- Philadelphia Union Announce Protected List for 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Philadelphia Union
- Official Draw for 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Tonight - Real Salt Lake
- Inter Miami CF Announces 2024 MLS Expansion Draft Protected List - Inter Miami CF
- Whitecaps FC Reveal Protected Player List for Upcoming MLS Expansion Draft - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- FC Cincinnati Announce Protected List Ahead of 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - FC Cincinnati
- Rapids Protect 12 Players Ahead of 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Colorado Rapids
- Charlotte FC Announce Protected List for 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Charlotte FC
- Chicago Fire FC Announces Protected Players Ahead of 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Chicago Fire FC
- Atlanta United Announces 2024 MLS Expansion Draft Protected List - Atlanta United FC
- Houston Dynamo FC Confirm Protected Players for the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Houston Dynamo FC
- Nashville Soccer Club Announces Protected Players List for 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Nashville SC
- Sporting KC Protects 12 Players Ahead of Expansion Draft - Sporting Kansas City
- CF Montréal Protects 12 Players Ahead of Expansion Draft - Club de Foot Montreal
- Minnesota United Announces Its 12 Protected Players Ahead of 2024 MLS Expansion Draft - Minnesota United FC
- Inter Miami CF Transfers Diego Gómez to English Premier League's Brighton & Hove Albion for Club-Record Fee - Inter Miami CF
- LA Galaxy Announce 2024 Roster Decisions - LA Galaxy
- Colorado Rapids Acquire Eight MLS SuperDraft Picks in Trade with Philadelphia Union - Colorado Rapids
- Philadelphia Union Acquire up to $600,000 in GAM from Colorado Rapids - Philadelphia Union
- FC Cincinnati Await Concacaf Champions Cup Matchup with Draw Set for December 10 - FC Cincinnati
- Nashville Soccer Club Re-Signs Defender Josh Bauer - Nashville SC
- MLS Second-Highest Attended League in the World - Charlotte FC
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Columbus Crew SC Stories
- Columbus Crew Sign Crew Academy Product Tristan Brown
- Columbus Crew Name Brian Bliss Academy Director
- Guillermo Barros Schelotto to be Enshrined as Fourth Member of Crew Circle of Honor, Presented by OhioHealth
- Seven Columbus Crew Players Called up for June FIFA International Window
- Columbus Crew Shelled by Inter Miami CF

