If you’ve followed us for any amount of time, you know we’re not here to sugarcoat things. We do our best to be honest and authentic, but through a positive lense. This episode of The Monarchists Basketball Show wasn’t about ignoring the warts of the 2025-26 version of ODU Basketball, it was about honesty. Talking with Coach Jones, we wanted to understand his view on what happened this season and more importantly, what’s coming next for Old Dominion Monarchs Men's Basketball.

To Coach Jones’ credit, he didn’t dodge anything.

Coming into the year, there were real expectations. Not manufactured hype, but a belief that this roster had the experience and shooting to take a big step forward in the Sun Belt. Instead, the season never quite found its footing and the team finished in the bottom of the league. There were flashes, there were moments, but not nearly enough consistency to match what everyone expected, including inside the program.

As we talked through it, one thing became clear. The offensive improvements were there with more balanced scoring and more options from 3, but they came with a tradeoff. Defensively, the team just wasn’t close to where it needed to be. Coach Jones said it as directly as you’ll hear it:

“Our issues this year were on the other end of the floor… we were not as good defensively as we needed to be.”

That’s not an easy fix, especially in today’s college basketball world where rosters turn over quickly and chemistry has to be built on the fly. But what stood out to us was how quickly the focus shifted. There wasn’t any lingering on what went wrong. It was immediately about what has to change.

And yes, change is coming.

Coach didn’t speak in vague terms about it either. He made it clear that adjustments are already underway, both in approach and in personnel.

“There are gonna be plenty of changes in our program and changes that we’re making to give us the best chance … to have the type of season that this program deserves.” 

That’s the reality of where things stand. This offseason is not about minor tweaks. It’s about reshaping what this team looks like and how it plays.

We also spent a good amount of time on recruiting, because that’s where the next version of this team is going to be built. And when we say right now, we mean it. Coach told us they were out recruiting before they even made it back to Norfolk from Pensacola, which is a great thing to hear considering the results. This isn’t a staff waiting for the portal to open and hoping things fall into place. They’re actively searching for players who are a good match for what they want to become.

And when we say match, it’s not just about talent. The best fits include;

  • Players who are willing to defend
  • Players who value winning over stats
  • Players who bring consistency and effort every day

That part matters more than ever. As Coach explained throughout the conversation, there’s no perfect formula to evaluating players. Film only tells part of the story. Seeing players in person, talking to trusted coaches, understanding their mindset. That’s where the real evaluation happens. And in a roster-building era defined by quick decisions, those details matter.

We also got into the transfer portal, which is about to open another wave of movement across the country. For ODU, there’s no denying that there will be turnover with a large senior class and a number of underclassmen moving on. But listening to Coach Jones, it didn’t come across as a negative. It felt more like an opportunity to build something more aligned with what they want.

There are minutes available. There are roles to be earned. And that creates a different kind of pitch when you’re recruiting.

At the same time, the challenge isn’t just finding players. It’s finding the right mix of players who can handle what the Sun Belt throws at you. And that’s something we kept coming back to during the conversation.

This league doesn’t have one dominating style and that presents a challenge.  

One night you’re dealing with pressure defense. The next it’s a team that slows everything down and packs the paint. Then you’re facing a group that can stretch the floor and shoot it from everywhere.

There’s no one way to win in this league. That’s why Coach emphasized versatility so much. You can’t build a team that only wins one style of game. You need players who can adjust, who can defend in different ways and who can respond when the game changes on you.

That’s the blueprint they’re chasing right now.

As we wrapped up the conversation, Coach Jones shared a message that we think matters for Monarch Nation.

He knows the expectations. He knows this year didn’t meet them. And he didn’t shy away from that responsibility.

What we appreciated most was the tone. It wasn’t defensive. It wasn’t making excuses. It was accountability, paired with a clear plan to fix it.

From our side, we can tell you this. The work is happening. The staff is attacking this offseason with purpose, and there’s a real urgency behind everything they’re doing. You can feel that when you talk to him. That being said, it has to translate to more wins next season.

Now, it is understandable that many fans are in a wait and see mode on Coach Jones given the first two seasons of his tenure. We are excited to see his plan come together and how they execute that plan. And we’re hoping for execution leading to great success in the 2026-27 version of ODU hoops, because with a new athletic director on the horizon, everything will be under evaluation.

We’ll all get our first look at that next version soon enough. Until then, this episode gives you a real window into how they’re approaching it and where this program is headed.

Watch the full conversation with Coach Mike Jones below.