Columbus Crew 2 have named Kelvin Jones as the second head coach in team history ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. Jones started with the Club in 2017 as an Academy coach and most recently served as the Crew’s UPSL Head Coach and Assistant Academy Director after serving as Academy Director from 2020-2023. On the international stage, Jones most recently represented the United States as an Assistant Coach during the 2023 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
“Since joining the Club, Kelvin has been instrumental to our efforts in creating an environment and fostering a culture that has given young players the opportunity to grow and develop, and we are proud to announce his new role as Crew 2 head coach,” said Crew 2 General Manager Corey Wray. “As we embarked on an extensive search for our next coach, it was clear that Kelvin is the right person to lead this team. He is a knowledgeable, adept leader who excels at getting the best out of players. He also has a deep understanding of Crew 2’s critical role in alignment throughout our Club and the player pathway. It is a privilege for our Club to promote Kelvin, and we are excited to see him officially get started with Sunday’s season opener.”
“It’s an honor to be named the Crew 2 head coach,” said Jones. “Crew 2 already has an unbelievable legacy for us to build upon. Thank you to the staff and senior leadership for entrusting me with this opportunity. It’s an exciting time at the Club right now in terms of aligning all the technical departments, and for me and for the Club, this is a really important role in aligning everything from the Academy to the First Team. This is an exciting opportunity for me but most importantly the Club as we continue to grow the Player Pathway.”
Jones joined the Club in 2017, in which he ascended through the Under-12, U-15 and U-19 Academy teams as head coach prior to being appointed Academy Director in 2020.
After becoming Academy Director in 2020, eight Academy players signed Homegrown contracts: Aboubacar Keita (2019), Aidan Morris (2020), Sebastian Berhalter (2020), Isaiah Parente (2021), Sean Zawadzki (2022), Keegan Hughes (2023), Taha Habroune (2024), and Cole Mrowka (2024). The Club also had eight Academy players sign MLS NEXT Pro contracts for Crew 2: Aidan Wolf and Zion Scarlett in 2022; Taha Habroune, Cole Mrowka and Stas Lapkes in 2023; and Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Giorgio De Libera, and Chris Rogers in 2024.
With Jones at the helm, the Crew Academy saw significant on-pitch successes from 2017-2023. At the 2023 Generation adidas (GA) Cup in Bradenton, Fla. (April 1-9), the U-17 side finished as tournament Semifinalists, while the U-15 group finished as Quarterfinalists. In 2022, the Crew Academy U-17 age group had a noteworthy tournament season, finishing as Quarterfinalists at the 2022 GA Cup in Dallas (April 9-17) and Finalists in the 2022 MLS NEXT Cup. Prior to the inception of MLS NEXT, the Crew Academy U-18/U-19 team closed the 2018 U.S Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in third place, while the U-16/U-17 group reached the Quarterfinals. The Crew was the only club in 2018 to have both age groups advance to the Quarterfinals.
In 2023, Jones became the Crew UPSL head coach. Earlier this year, he led the Crew side to the National Finals where they defeated Foro Soccer Club 1-0 in the third-place match.
In October of 2023, Jones was named an assistant coach for the United States Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team for the 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 is the second head coach in Crew 2 history, following the departure of Laurent Courtois to CF Montreal. Courtois in January became the first ever MLS NEXT Pro coach to earn a head coaching position in MLS.
Jones possesses numerous coaching certifications, including a U.S. Soccer Federation A License, a NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma and a U.S. Soccer Federation National Youth License, as well as completed the Elite Formation Coaching License course in 2022, a partnership between MLS and the French Football Federation.
Prior to joining the Crew, Jones served as the Director of Coaching for Virginia Legacy Soccer Club from 2011-17.
A defender hailing from Fredericksburg, Jones was the 2000 Virginia High School Soccer Player of the Year before competing at Wake Forest University. He made 61 appearances with the Demon Deacons, registering four goals and five assists from 2000-03. During his career, Wake made three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (2001-2003) and captured the ACC regular season championship in 2002. He signed with the Charleston Battery in 2004, recording 12 appearances in USL First Division play across two seasons. In his rookie season, Jones helped the Battery reach the semifinals of the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He joined the Richmond Kickers in 2006, and over the course of four seasons, played 81 games, scored two goals and won two USL Second Division championships.
Assistant Coach Kobie Johnson, Goalkeeper Coach Alex Blackburn, Head Athletic Trainer Sara Kusner and Video and Data Analyst Marc O’Neill will continue in their current roles with Crew 2. Jorge Gonzales joins the Crew 2 staff as Performance Coach while Avery DelFavero has become Head Equipment Manager for Crew 2 after serving in similar capacities for the Academy. New to the Club in 2024 is Claire Quaassdorff, who comes to Columbus as Crew 2 Manager, Soccer Operations. Gonzalez and Quaassdorff fill vacancies following promotions of Ahmad Salamah and Elena Lemus to the First Team staff.
Crew 2 begin the MLS NEXT Pro season at home against New York Red Bulls II at Lower.com Field on Sunday, March 17 at 3 p.m. ET. The full season schedule can be found here.
Supporters can secure their spot to all Crew 2 home matches with 2024 Crew 2 Season Tickets. Crew 2 season ticket packages are available for the affordable average prices of $7.50 per match for current Crew Season Ticket Members and $12 per contest for other fans. Information on single-game tickets, which are also available, can be found here.
