MONMOUTH, ILL. (08/05/2021) Central Illinois native Megan Jones has been named Monmouth College women's basketball head coach.
Jones comes to Monmouth from Luther College in Iowa where she was an assistant coach for the last three seasons while also serving as the Assistant Coordinator for Athletics social media/graphics/video.
"We are excited to have someone with the quality playing and coaching background of Megan Jones to lead our women's basketball program forward," said Monmouth Director of Athletics Roger Haynes. "She has been mentored by strong coaches at all of her basketball stops, and she will bring a tremendous amount of energy to our program."
"I want to thank Coach Haynes and President Wyatt for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to lead the Fighting Scots women's basketball program," said coach Jones. "It is a very exciting time for the College, the program and for me personally to have this incredible opportunity. I am passionate about the Division III experience and I can't wait to get started working with our student-athletes at Monmouth."
Jones played at Loras College, graduating in 2016. During her four years with the Duhawks, the program won 71 games, a conference title and twice made the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Jones worked three seasons at Luther under head coach Amanda Bailey. In her first two seasons the Norse were 22-10 in American Rivers Conference play, and they reached the conference tournament semifinals both years. Luther's 2020-21 season was limited to 11 games and they won the conference tournament opener at Nebraska Wesleyan before falling in the quarterfinals at Simpson College
"I want to thank coach Amanda Bailey for her mentorship and giving me my first opportunity in college coaching and the administration at Luther for all of their support. It is a pretty special place," said coach Jones. I'm appreciative of my time there and excited to take everything I've learned at Luther at bring it Monmouth to compete in the Midwest Conference"
Jones earned a master's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A native of Colfax, Illinois, she played basketball at Ridgeview High School on teams that finished third in the state during her freshman and junior seasons. Jones was a second team all-state selection in basketball and an all-conference selection in volleyball.
Jones' parents, Robyn and Andy, are also basketball coaches. Megan played for her dad during her senior year of high school. In 2020, the basketball court at the junior high was renamed "Coach Jones Court."
"Family is what is most important to me and we treat the team like a family," said coach Jones. "Getting closer to home and being able to tie in the two with my personal family and basketball family is pretty special."
Jones succeeds Kyle Wilson, who resigned in June to take a non-coaching job in Texas. Wilson coached the Scots for five seasons with an overall record of 58-68. His final season culminated in a school-record 21 wins and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.
The Scots went 21-7 in the 2019-20 season with a 14-4 Midwest Conference mark. After a second place finish in the regular season, the Scots beat Cornell 61-47 in the MWC semifinals and won at Ripon 74-69 in the MWC Championship Game. The season ended with a 91-55 NCAA Tournament first round loss at #5 Wartburg.
The Scots did not play during the 2020-21 school year. The season opener is currently scheduled to be against Buena Vista University on Nov. 13 in Glennie Gymnasium.
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