‘A second mom to us’: Riverside’s Jones puts basketball aside to focus on family

Riverside head girls basketball coach Brianne Jones announced earlier this month that she was stepping down from coaching after six seasons.

After six years in charge of Riverside girls basketball, head coach Brianne Jones announced in early April that she was stepping down from the program.

“I think the hardest part of saying goodbye is that these girls have become like family to me,” said Jones. 

Now, Jones relieves herself of her basketball coaching duties to spend time with her true family. She’s a mother to three kids. Her oldest, Eli, is 13. Alyssa is the middle child at 12. Beckett, the youngest in the Jones family, is seven. 

All three of Jones’ children have battled heavy medical conditions for the larger portions of their lives. 

Eli has Eosinophilic esophagitis — an allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus. Alyssa underwent a two-year bout with leukemia from 2021-2023. Beckett was born with Down syndrome.

Jones is stepping aside from basketball to spend more time with each of them.

“This has been on my heart for a while now,” said Jones. “My kids are growing up. Two of them are in middle school now. They’re starting to be involved with sports and things of that nature. I want to be more involved in their lives and be a presence for them when they need it.

“I want to change my focus from coaching other people’s kids to being there and coaching my own kids, more than I have in the past.”

From left: Alyssa, Brianne, Beckett, Eli, and Matt make up the Jones family. Brianne is stepping down from coaching to spend more time with them all.

As Jones transitions to the more permanent and focused role of mother she desires, there’s little question of the impact she’s left not just on Riverside basketball, but on the young Lady Warrior athletes Jones has helped shape.

Several Lady Warriors took the time to thank Jones for everything she’s done.

Jones has been a close friend and mentor to them all.

“She’s more than just a coach,” said junior forward Sophia Powell. “Coach Jones is an inspiration to all of us. The past three years with her have been unforgettable. Her guidance and support have made a lasting impact on my life… I’m really going to miss her and will always be grateful for everything she’s taught me.”

“Coach Jones has impacted our lives for the better. She’s not just a coach, but she’s like a second mom for all of us,” said junior guard Kyndal Haroski. “Her love and support have helped our game and allowed us to grow on and off the court. She’s fostered a safe environment for us that we’ll cherish forever.”

Two of Jones’ seniors, whom she coached for the entirety of their high school careers, also offered parting messages for the only high school head coach they ever knew.

“I am so thankful I got to play my four varsity seasons for Coach Jones,” said senior guard Madison Garrido. “Since day one, she saw potential in my skills that I didn't even know I had. Every practice, she pushed me to be my best.”

“Coach Jones is not only an amazing coach who has done incredible things for the Riverside basketball program, but she is also an amazing person who we all look up to as a role model,” said senior forward Elly Trickett. “She has played such a big part in my life. I always know she has my back no matter what, on or off the court. She has taught us so many life lessons, like the importance of hard work, commitment, and valuing family. 

“We are all so blessed to know her and thankful for all of the time she has spent pouring into us.”

Jones took over the program in 2019 and had her work cut out for her. She took over a team that won just three games the season prior. 

Jones turned Riverside into a juggernaut over time, winning 20+ games each of her final three seasons — and the Class 4-A state championship in 2024.

“When we started succeeding, that was all because of the girls’ hard work,” said Jones. “They were willing to put in the work, to learn the fundamentals, and continue to grow.”

Jones celebrates with her team after defeating South Pointe in the third round of the 2024 Class 4A playoffs.

Jones has always instilled a “bigger than basketball” motto in her players, she says. At the end of the day, basketball is just a game. Life, Jones reiterates, will always be defined by what’s most important.

And for her, that’s her family. Her husband, Matt, and her three children. 

In stepping down to spend more time with them, Jones is simply practicing what she’s always preached.

“When Alyssa was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021, it kind of gave me a different mindset on life,” said Jones. “It gave me a glimpse of how short life truly can be.

“It’s really hard. It’s hard to know that this season was a season of ‘lasts.’ But as I step away and put that time with my family first, I hope it shows the girls the importance of putting family first. I’ve always tried to teach them that.”

Jones finishes her career in charge of Riverside girls basketball with a record of 81-70 and a state championship to her name — the first and only in program history.