NORFOLK, Va. — The lights inside Chartway Arena still dazzle, bouncing off the polished floor of a venue that coaches around the country consistently rate as one of the best in mid-major basketball. But lately, the roar that used to define this building, the deafening noise that made Old Dominion University one of the most feared environments in the Mid-Atlantic, has been replaced by a murmur of apathy and the sharp sting of frustration.
As the 2025–26 regular season limps toward its conclusion, the verdict is in. The "bandwagon" that Head Coach Mike Jones warned fans not to miss has not only left the station; it has careened off the tracks.
With a dismal 8–18 overall record and a 4–9 mark in Sun Belt play as of mid February, the promise of a new era led by a beloved alum has dissolved into a nightmare. It is a painful realization, but one that must be faced: the experiment has failed. For ODU to return to its rightful place, the university must move on from Mike Jones and take a hard look at the leadership culture that allowed this proud program to drift into irrelevance.
The Failure to Launch
When Mike Jones was hired in 2024 to replace the retiring Jeff Jones, it felt like a homecoming. An alum who played on the legendary 1995 NCAA Tournament team that stunned Villanova, Jones checked every emotional box. He was a "nice guy," a respected figure, and he promised a return to glory.
Entering the 2025–26 campaign, the hype machine was in overdrive. Jones had secured what was touted as one of the best recruiting classesin the Sun Belt. He retained the conference's Preseason Player of the Year in Robert Davis Jr.. At a "Meet the Monarchs" event in October 2025, Jones stood before the faithful and declared, "We’re going to win a lot of games," while his players chanted "Sun Belt Champions",.
The reality has been a stark contrast to that preseason bluster. After going 15–21 in his debut season, Jones’s squad has regressed. Despite having a roster loaded with veteran transfers and returning starters, a luxury Jones himself called "virtually unheard of" in the modern era, the Monarchs languish near the bottom of the conference standings.
This isn't a rebuilding year; it was built to be a winning year. The team had the NIL budget, the talent, and the experience. Instead, they are looking up at programs like Troy, Appalachian State, and even a struggling James Madison. When a coach tells a fanbase, "If you’re going to join us, get on the train with us now," and then delivers sub-.350 basketball, credibility is lost.
The Selig Era: A Legacy of Diminishing Returns
While the immediate failure falls on the coaching staff, the rot extends deeper. To understand "where we go from here," we must acknowledge the environment cultivated by Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig.
Selig, the fifth longest-tenured AD in the FBS, often points to the $115 million invested in facilities during his tenure, including the state-of-the-art Bernett & Blanche Mitchum Basketball Performance Center,. But facilities are meant to house winners, not justify mediocrity.
The statistics of the Selig era paint a damning portrait of decline. In the last 15 years of men’s basketball, ODU has reached the NCAA Tournament just once—and secured zero wins in the Big Dance. Even more alarming is the erosion of the fanbase. When Selig took over in 2010, average attendance hovered near 7,700. By the 2025–26 season, that number has plummeted to roughly 5,100.
Perhaps the most bitter pill for Monarch Nation to swallow is the "Royal Rivalry" with James Madison. While JMU has surged in recent years, ODU has withered. Since the 2018–19 season, the Monarchs are a shocking 1–9 against the Dukes in men’s basketball.
Under Selig's watch, the standard has lowered. Extensions have been granted despite what critics call "pathetic efforts" across major revenue sports. The basketball program, once the crown jewel of the university, has gone 29–62 over the last three seasons. That is not a slump; that is a collapse.
Why We Must Move Now
Some may argue for patience, but the landscape of college athletics affords none. The Sun Belt Conference is not an elite mid-major league; it is extremely winnable. Programs like Troy and Arkansas State are not competing with the same set of tools that are available to ODU.
ODU cannot afford to waste another year of the transfer portal window or NIL resources on a regime that cannot translate talent into wins. The 2025–26 season has proven that retaining talent means nothing without tactical execution. The Monarchs have the Preseason Player of the Year and a top-tier recruiting class, yet they sit at 13th in the conference.
The apathy setting in at Chartway Arena is dangerous. Once the fans stop caring, the program loses its greatest asset. A change is necessary not just to win games, but to re-engage a community that feels taken for granted.
The Profile of the Next Coach
So, where do we go from here?
Despite the current struggles, the Old Dominion job remains a gold mine. In a recent anonymous poll of coaches, ODU was ranked the No. 2 job in the Sun Belt, second only to JMU. Peers cite the incredible facilities, the recruiting base, and the financial resources as reasons why ODU "checks every box".
The next search must look beyond sentimentality. We do not need another "Monarch for life" or a nice guy who interviews well. ODU needs a tactician and a program builder.
A Proven Winner, Not Just a Recruiter: Mike Jones proved he could bring talent to Norfolk, but he couldn't make them win. The next coach must have a track record of in-game adjustments and player development that translates to the win column.
Portal Mastery: The next coach must understand that the roster is fluid. They need to maximize the transfer market not just for "names," but for cohesive fit.
The JMU Killer: The interview process should include one simple question: "How will you beat James Madison?" ODU needs a coach with the fire to reclaim the state of Virginia.
The history of Old Dominion basketball is too rich, and the resources too vast, to accept being a bottom-dweller in the Sun Belt. The "Champagne days" of the CAA titles feel like ancient history. To bring them back, ODU must make the hard choice. It is time to thank Mike Jones for his service as a player, and show him the door as a coach.
The train has indeed left the station, but it’s going the wrong way. It’s time for new leadership to grab the wheel.