RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan College has named Mark Jones head volleyball coach as announced today by Director of Athletics Robert Byrnes. Jones brings over 15 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Lady Jaspers program, which includes two successful head coaching stints and a term as an assistant at Pac-10 power Washington State.
"We are fortunate to hire a very experienced and successful coach in Mark, especially this time of year," stated Byrnes. "I think he will fit in very well with the team, as well as in the Manhattan College community."
Jones steps to the helm of the Manhattan program after most recently serving as an assistant coach at the University of Maine for the past two seasons. During his tenure on the Black Bears staff, Jones served as the program's recruiting coordinator, organized team travel, and primarily worked with passing and defense.
"I want to thank Robert Byrnes and Manhattan College for this great opportunity. I am happy to be a part of the Manhattan College family," Jones explained. "I look forward to a successful season here in Riverdale."
Prior to Maine, Jones spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee State of the Ohio Valley Conference. While in Nashville, Jones helped lead the Tigers to back-to-back 20+ win seasons, a 26-6 overall league record and the 2005 Ohio Valley Conference Championship. His coaching responsibilities at Tennessee State included, organizing practice, game management, scouting, on-court training, student-athlete recruitment and the supervision of academic progress.
Jones began his collegiate coaching career in 1994 at Washington State where he served four years as the head men's volleyball coach and as an assistant on the women's volleyball staff. On the men's side, Jones compiled an impressive 99-22 (.818) overall record, 46-4 (.920) league mark in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (PIVA), and four PIVA conference championships. In his final two years (1997 & 1998), Jones posted consecutive 30-win seasons, including perfect 13-0 conference records.
During his time as the women's assistant coach at Washington State, the Cougars earned berths to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, and advanced to the Regional Finals in 1996. In his last three years with the program, Washington State finished in the top-4 of the Pac-10, including second place finishes in 1995 & 1996. Additionally, the Cougars compiled a 38-16 (.703) Pac-10 mark and 75-19 (.797) overall record.
After one season as a Division I top assistant at Northwestern State University of the Southland Conference for the 1998 campaign, Jones earned his second head coaching position at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. Jones joined the William Woods staff as the first assistant of the women's and men's teams for the 1999-2000 season, and was then promoted to the helm of both programs. Jones served as head coach from 2000-2003 and helped both teams earn national rankings.
In just his second year with the men's team, Jones guided the Owls to the 2002 NAIA National Championship, after recording a 31-4 overall record and 9-1 league mark. For his superb efforts, Jones was named Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC) Coach of the Year. In 2003, Jones guided William Woods to a second place finish in the MAMVIC and completed the season ranked #5 nationally. On the women's side, William Woods finished top-3 in the America Midwest Conference (AMC) in each of his three seasons. The Owls posted a 22-14 record in the AMC under Jones guidance, and achieved a #27 national ranking in 2002.
Jones received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University and lettered all four years on the men's volleyball team. He went on to receive a Master's Degree in Education from William Woods University, and then earned a second Master's Degree of Arts in Education with a concentration in Sports Administration from Tennessee State University.
