Keith Jones is in his seventh season at the Naval Academy and his fifth as the outside linebackers coach. Jones has been a key part of a staff that has brought the Midshipmen back into the national spotlight with a 43-20(.683) record over the last five years.

The 2007 season was one for the record books as the Midshipmen posted an 8-5 record, won a school-record fifth-consecutive Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, appeared in a school-record fifth-straight bowl game, and defeated Notre Dame for the first time since 1963.

Outside linebacker Matt Wimsatt finished third on the team in tackles (77) and tackles for a loss (six) and tied for first in sacks (three).

Navy's defense was stout in 2006, giving up just 116.7 yards per game (38th in the country) on the ground and more importantly, 20.1 points per game (41st in the country). Outside linebackers David Mahoney and Tyler Tidwell rank second and third, respectively, on Navy's all-time sacks list, while Mahoney stands second all-time at Navy in career tackles for a loss. Mahoney was also named First-Team All-East by the ECAC.

In 2005, Jones was part of a staff that did a remarkable job with a defense that returned just three starters from the year before as the Mids appeared in a third-straight bowl game, won a school-record second-straight bowl game and claimed the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.

Tidwell, finished 14th in the nation in tackles for a loss, averaging 1.58 per contest. He recorded at least one tackle for a loss in every game but one and was named the defensive MVP of the Poinsettia Bowl as he recorded a career-high 11 tackles and three sacks.

In 2004, Jones' efforts helped Navy finish 26th in the country in scoring defense (19.83), win a school-record tying 10 games (the most wins since 1905), win the Emerald Bowl (just the fifth bowl win in school history) and capture the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.

In 2003, Jones helped the defense finish 14th in the nation in pass defense (61st the year before), 42nd in pass efficiency defense (116th the year before), 34th in total defense (100th the year before) and 34th in scoring defense (108th the year before) as Navy won eight games, the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and a berth in the Houston Bowl.

In Jones' first season at Navy where he coached the corners, the Mids were devastated by injuries at nearly every position, but the Mids played their best at the end of the year and held Army to just 12 points in the season finale.

Jones, a 1975 graduate of The Citadel, returned to his alma mater in 1997 and served as secondary coach for five years and defensive coordinator (2000) for one before coming to Navy. In 2001, The Citadel ranked eighth in the nation in pass efficiency defense (92.93 yards per game) and 14th (153.4 yards per game) in pass defense.

A member of The Citadel's 1973 football team, Jones played defensive back and special teams. He began his coaching career at Charleston's Bishop England High School (1975-78) and went on to work with the legendary Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State where he coached the defensive secondary. He spent two seasons at North Carolina A&T (1980 and 1996) as the secondary coach and at Murray State in the same capacity from 1981-86, including a stint as the defensive coordinator his final season.

In 1987, Jones joined Frank Beamer's staff at Virginia Tech and was the secondary coach for the Hokies until 1993, when he left to become the head coach at Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va., for two seasons. Jones returned to college coaching in 1996 as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina A&T.

During his career, Jones has coached 10 players who have gone on to play professionally, including Dexter Clinckscale (Dallas Cowboys) and William Judson (Miami Dolphins).

Jones earned his undergraduate degree in physical education from The Citadel in 1975 and a master's degree in counselor education from South Carolina State. He and his wife, Pamela, have four daughters, Kristin (26), Tiffany (26), Kourtney (22) and Brittany (20).