GAINESVILLE, FLA. ? Donnie Jones has left Billy Donovan’s Florida basketball staff to take over Marshall’s program.

Donovan announced Jones’ appointment Friday night at Florida’s championship celebration. Jones, who will replace fired coach Ron Jirsa, was to be introduced at a news conference this morning.

Jones, Florida’s associate coach, met with Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum on Thursday morning, then spent the afternoon touring the facilities.

“When I first got hired at Marshall, Donnie was on my first, and he’s been with me ever since,” Donovan said. “Besides working so hard for me, for the University of Florida, I’m so happy for him and for his family because he’s getting an opportunity to go back home where his roots are. Marshall made a great decision. I cannot thank him enough personally, his wife Michelle and children, for what he’s done for me.”

Jones, 40, was hired as a graduate assistant at Marshall in 1990. He spent four years there as an assistant coach, two under Donovan, before following Donovan to Florida in 1996.