Courtesy of SIUE Athletics
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE softball Head Coach Sandy Montgomery has announced the appointment of Jessica Jones as the program’s associate head coach.
Jones joined the SIUE softball program as an assistant last season. During her first season, SIUE won its first Ohio Valley Conference title and earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.
The Cougars completed the 2014 season with a 30-23 record and a 19-5 mark in the OVC. SIUE won its final three OVC regular season contests and then swept three straight in the OVC Tournament in Jacksonville, Ala.
“Jessica has the mind of a head coach and understands the nuances of how a program runs and runs well,” said Montgomery.
Serving as the recruiting coordinator for the Cougars, Jones and the SIUE softball program have been increasingly aggressive in nationwide recruiting efforts. The Cougars have players from eight different states.
“She has done a great job of recruiting kids with outstanding athleticism which is something you have to do to get better,” said Montgomery.
The 2015 season will be a test for the Cougars at the catcher position with two incoming freshman and one returner vying for the starting job. Jones works directly with the catchers and also is the team’s hitting coach.
“Jessica also has been a pitching coach so she understands the pitching side of the equation as well,” Montgomery added.
Jones is in charge of developing scouting reports of opponents to provide strategic information for SIUE’s hitters.
“She does a great job of providing scouting information against opponent pitchers,” said Montgomery.
Montgomery said Jones also has primary oversight over the program’s administrative and financial duties.
Previously serving as the associate head coach at Buffalo for five seasons, Jones acted as the team’s offensive coach, pitching/catching coach, and recruiting coordinator. She also was the acting head coach for the majority of the 2010 season.
Jones holds a master’s in business administration from Ohio as well as a bachelor’s in public relations from Purdue.
