 | Cougar Athletics |
SIUE Athletics | |
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 Cindy Jones |
July 31, 2002 Cindy Jones Announces Retirement as SIUE's Director of Athletics Cindy Jones, the director of athletics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville since 1988 and member of the Cougar Athletics staff since 1975, has announced her intentions to retire. Dr. Narbeth Emmanuel, SIUE's Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, said Jones will retire in December. Jones will step down as the Director of Athletics on Aug. 1 and serve as a consulting athletic director. Jones originally took the position of Director of Athletics in July 1988 after being promoted from assistant athletic director, which she had held from 1979-1988. Jones was the founder of the SIUE softball program and coach from 1975 until her appointment as Director of Athletics. "I appreciate the opportunities SIUE has provided for me as a coach and an administrator. I will leave my position as athletic director knowing that the future is even brighter for this program," Jones said. As an administrator, Jones managed an athletic program that more than doubled in size financially. As SIUE's sixth director of athletics, Jones was instrumental in guiding the Cougars into the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 1994. She added women's golf and women's volleyball to the program. Her tenure included a national championship for the women's tennis team in 1989. Most recently, Jones has served as a member of the national committee for NCAA Division II softball. She is a volunteer for Illinois Special Olympics and completed two terms on its Board of Directors. Jones also is a member of the Maryville Parks Committee. "Cindy has provided Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with great leadership in the Athletic Department during her tenure. Her dedication to the values and mission of this University has set a high standard for her successor," Emmanuel said. Jones became one of the most successful softball coaches in NCAA Division II, posting a 376-204 record and leading the Cougars to four trips to the national tournament. In 1980, Jones gained her first national tournament berth in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Championships, leading SIUE to a ninth-place finish. Two years later, Jones led the Cougars to a second-place finish at the AIAW-II Tournament. Jones posted two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, leading the 1985 squad to the University's first 40-win season. In the 1988 season, the Cougars won 39 games after a 14-0 start. Jones played a key role in producing four softball All-Americans as well as one Academic All-American. Jones also served as the SIUE field hockey coach from 1976-1979. She previously worked at Indiana State for five years as the head women's swimming coach. A four-sport student-athlete at Eastern Michigan, Jones earned her bachelor's degree in 1969. Jones also was a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, earning a master's degree in physical education in 1970. -siue- -siue cougars- |