Micah Jones is just like any other basketball assistant coach. He breaks down film, he directs drills in practice, and he really likes to win.
 
Except the winning for Micah started at a much younger age than most of us – nine months old to be exact – and his winning means much more than the result of any basketball game.
 
Jones was born with hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder caused by the buildup of spinal fluid in the brain. Hydrocephalus affects nearly one in every 1,000 children born in the U.S.
 
From nine months to two years old, Micah had nearly ten life-saving procedures to drain fluid from his brain. That would be enough pain for anyone to endure in a lifetime, but it was just the beginning for Micah.
 
He then developed brain cancer, and needed numerous more surgeries in order to "survive and advance," a phrase that most coaches use regularly. But that saying has a more meaningful significance to Micah.
 
"I used to think and ask, 'why me?,"' Jones said. "Eventually, I started to realize that everyone has a purpose and mine is to push others to realize that they can accomplish so much in life."
 
And now Micah has dedicated his life to being an inspiration for others.
 
"The biggest part for me is shaping the lives and mindsets of our student-athletes, not just in basketball but in life too," Jones said. "I want them to appreciate everything that they've been given."
 
Jones began his path to coaching during his high school days, serving as the manager of the Niagara Falls High School boys basketball team until his graduation in 2007. He was also a part of the 2005 team that earned New York State and Federation Championship titles, and was ranked third in the nation.
 
After high school, Micah moved on to Niagara County Community College (NCCC) to earn a degree in communication. He continued to be involved in basketball as the manager of the men's and women's basketball teams at NCCC for five years, honing his coaching skills and techniques.
 
As Micah moved on to Buffalo State to continue his academic career, an opportunity presented itself to be a student assistant coach for the men's basketball program, and Micah jumped on the opportunity.
 
"I'm forever grateful to Arthur Eve for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Buffalo State men's basketball program."
 
For four seasons, Micah was on the sidelines with the men's team, learning how to communicate with student-athletes, while also experiencing some high-quality play from the team.
 
"I loved being able to watch Lovell Smith and Jordan Glover play. They were extremely talented and really exciting," Jones recalled. "I used to call Lovell 'Spiderman" because his arms reached out like spider webs when he was about to block a shot."
 
In 2019, Jones made the move to join the Buffalo State women's basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach, a position that he has held each year since. He has assisted with team philosophy and morale, and considers himself the inspirational leader of the squad. He's unmistakable on the sidelines, almost always dressed in a full suit, and always the loudest one on the bench shouting encouragement to the players.
 
"I have enjoyed watching these young women develop as athletes and as people. I want to help them achieve their dreams, and to appreciate that basketball is a gift that they have been given."
 
Without even intending, Micah has impacted the lives of many others within Buffalo State and beyond. He serves as a crucial reminder that our perspective can sometimes be the only thing holding us back from greatness.