Ivan Jones was a graduate of Jackson High and played football at Troy State University. He became the head football coach at Foley in 1955. He spent 35 years as a teacher, coach and administrator at Foley High School.

His 1961 and 1962 teams were named state champions by several sources. The 1961 Foley Lions outscored their opponents 433-6 in route to a perfect 10-0 record.

During one stretch, 1960-64, his teams won 47 of 50 games. All 14 of his teams finished with winning records. He would step down as head coach at Foley following the 1968 football season but not away from the game. He can still be found around the school and the football stadium for practices and games.

Coach Jones is a member of the Foley High School Hall of Fame. Coach Jones also served as president of the state coaches association. The stadium in Foley is named in his honor in 2004. He also coached in the North-South all-star football game in Tuscaloosa.

Coach Jones was named Coach of the Year by the Birmingham Post Herald in 1961. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Associations Hall of Fame.