Ernie Jones began his coaching career with the Blue-T Club in Tulsa in 1967. From 1967 to 1971 the Blue-T wrestling team went 55-1 in duals, winning five straight city championships. Blue-T wrestler Rodney Kilgore went on to become a three-time Oklahoma state high school champion and a two-time NCAA champion for the University of Oklahoma.

Coach Jones then became the Head Wrestling Coach at Tulsa Booker T. Washington from 1973 to 1980. During his tenure at Washington, he took a raw program and won four consecutive Oklahoma state team titles from 1976 to 1979 and finished runner-up in 1980. Jones coached 19 individual Oklahoma state champions at Booker T. Washington, including three-time state champion Rodney Hooks and four-time undefeated state champion Kenny Monday.

After leaving Washington, Jones became the head coach at Tulsa Webster. From 1981 to 1994, Webster finished in the top two 10 times, winning back-to-back state tournament and dual championships in 1993 and 1994. He coached 19 individual Oklahoma state champions, including three-time state champion Shawn Harrison.

Following a short retirement, Jones returned to coaching and resurrected the wrestling program at Cascia Hall. Since his arrival, Cascia Hall has finished in the top five 10 times, including two runner-up finishes at state and three runner-up finishes at dual state. Cascia Hall has also won the Oklahoma Academic State Championship twice while crowning 23 individual state champions, including a four-time winner and a pair of three-time winners. Cascia Hall alum Tanner Garrett won 114 matches at the United States Naval Academy and ranks in the Top 10 in career wins.

Six former wrestlers earned All-American honors 13 times and Kilgore and Monday were both NCAA champions. Monday is also an Olympic gold and silver medalist and a World Champion who is a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Jones is also a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Booker T. Washington Hall of Fame.