JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Michael Jones, known by many for making “The Tackle” in Super Bowl XXXIV, will make his return back to the state of Missouri after accepting the position of Head Football Coach at Lincoln University today, as announced by President Carolyn R. Mahoney.

Jones“It feels incredible to get this opportunity,” Jones said of being named the new head coach. “I feel blessed getting the chance to be a head coach at this point in my career, as so many never get the opportunity to be a head coach at the collegiate level.”

“I am excited to have him as our new head coach,” LU Athletic Director Betty Kemna said. “His ties within the state of Missouri will hopefully help us recruit more local talent to Jefferson City.”

Jones spent the past season as linebacker coach at Southern University in Louisiana, where the Jaguars went 2-9. Southern’s defense recorded several solid numbers in 2010, including 26 sacks, eight interceptions and 92 tackles for loss.

Before his time at Southern, Jones spent six years at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, where he spent two years as head coach leading the team to a state title in 2008, when the team went 12-2. Overall as a head coach, he went 18-7. Jones will now look to transition his time as a head coach there to being the head coach at Lincoln.

“I think it will be a pretty smooth transition,” he said. “Having been around St. Louis as a player and coach and having grown up in Kansas City and playing college football at Mizzou, fitting back into the state should be fine. Now it will be all about getting a coaching staff together and evaluating the staff and players there to find out what needs to be improved on.”

Jones attended college at the University of Missouri, where he originally played as a running back. During his illustrious career at MU, Jones was the second leading rusher for the Tigers in his career in Colombia, while setting the school record for most yards in a quarter (104).He was also the leading scorer on the team in both his junior and senior seasons. Jones set the all-time mark for receptions for a running back in a season (41) and in a career (72), and was named a semi-finalist for the Doak Walker Award, signifying the nation's best collegiate running back. He was converted to the linebacker position when he signed with the Raiders as a rookie free agent.

Jones is well known for his actions during the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV, known as "The Tackle", when he tackled then-Titans receiver Kevin Dyson at the one-yard line to preserve a Rams victory. He also had a superb performance during the regular season that year, recording one sack and four interceptions, which he returned for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He also recovered two fumbles, returning them for 51 yards and a touchdown.

“He brings a wealth of football knowledge having played at Mizzou and in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams; this should help with recruiting right away,” Kemna said. Jones finished his 12-year career in professional football with nine sacks, eight interceptions, 132 return yards, five fumble recoveries, 94 return yards, and four touchdowns (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) in 183 games. While a member of the St. Louis Rams, he was a three-time winner of the Carl Ekern Award, and also won the Ed Block Courage Award. He was named third-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 1999, as well as being named to the All-Joe team by the USA Today, and was named one of The Sporting News' 99 Good guys in Sports.