Jessica Jones has been named the permanent head coach at SIU-Edwardsville, the school announced on Thursday.
Jones spent the 2019 season as the interim head coach after taking over for program architect Sandy Montgomery last summer. The Cougars finished the 2019 season with a 16-28 overall record.
SIUE Athletic Director Brad Hewitt, quoted in the university release on Thursday, said, “Jessica had great experience and we were fortunate to be able to hire her by in 2014. Coach Montgomery and I both said after Jessica interviewed for our position that she could be the future of SIUE Softball. With her demonstrated passion and commitment for the student-athletes and her personal and professional growth it was very clear after this season that Coach Jones was definitely the future of Cougar Softball. She will continue our traditions of first class student-athletes who succeed both on the field and in the classroom.”
Prior to taking on the interim head coach title, Jones spent five seasons on the Cougars’ coaching staff under Montgomery, including four years with the title of Associate Head Coach. Her coaching resume also includes a five-year stint at Buffalo, as well as stops at Ohio University and on staff at Purdue, her alma mater.
As a player, Jones was a four-year starter at Purdue, initially the Boilermakers’ starting third baseman before spending the final three seasons of her career as the program’s starting catcher. She earned all-region honors as a freshman and was named to the all-conference roster as a senior. She also played professionally in Italy following her collegiate playing career.
In addition to their 16-28 overall record, the Cougars posted an 8-14 record this season in Ohio Valley Conference play and earned a berth to the conference tournament.
