Jermaine Jones Joins Richmond Track and Field Staff

Ball State coach becomes part of Spider Track and Field staff

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, VA – Jermaine Jones, former head men's track and field/cross country coach at Ball State, will join the Richmond Spider track and field staff as an assistant, Lori Taylor, Director of track and field, and Steve Taylor, head men's coach, announced Wednesday.

Jones served as the head men's coach and was in charge of all aspects of the women's throwing program in Muncie, Ind., since taking over the program in 2003.

"We couldn't be happier with the addition of Jermaine to our staff," Lori Taylor said. "He has a lot of experience and is a proven recruiter. We believe he will compliment our vision for the Spiders' program, and help our team win Championships and qualify athletes to the NCAA Championships. We have a number of talented athletes within our program and we know he will guide them to the highest level of our sport."

This past season five athletes from Jones' men's team qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships and produced one All-American, including:

Andrew Miller - Javelin (207'-10'')
Jeremy Gillingham – Shot Put (54'-5 ¼")
Kyle Cleaver – Hammer Throw (182'-8")
Kurt Kinkead – 400 hurdles (52.05)
Paul Panning – Pole Vault (17'-3/4")

Panning placed third (17'11") at the NCAA Regionals and qualified for the NCAA Championships where he placed 10th, earning consecutive NCAA All-American honors.

Jones is currently coaching Zach Riley, one of the nation's top hammer throwers and a two-time NCAA All-American. Riley placed 10th at the 2004 USA Olympic Team Trials in Sacramento, Calif. He earned NCAA All-American honors in the hammer throw in 2001 and 2002 and placed 11th in the weight throw at the 2002 USATF Indoor National Championships. Ball State's record holder in the hammer, weight throw and shot is also a three-time Mid-American Conference hammer champion (2000-2002)

Last fall, Jones led the Cardinals' men's cross country team to a seventh-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships. In 2004 his team placed sixth at the conference's outdoor championships.

"Jermaine's coaching experience will be a valuable asset to our program," Steve Taylor said. "He also has ties to the Midwest and the talent within those states. We recruit nationally and this will help us build stronger relationships with high school coaches in that area. We're impressed with his background and understanding of and ability to work with athletes at all levels from high school to the NCAA Division I level and Olympic Trials qualifiers. We feel that is an important component to being a successful coach."

Jones served as a graduate assistant at Ball State from 2001-03, when he oversaw the field events, recruiting and daily strength training.

Prior to his stint at Ball State, Jones was an administrative assistant with the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Community Schools. Additionally, he held the position of assistant football and track coach at Northrop High School in 2001.

Jones held the position of head cross country and track and field coach at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind., from 1997-2000. As the program's first coach, Jones guided one NAIA All-American, five NAIA national competitors and numerous all-conference selections in his three-year tenure.

The Fort Wayne, Ind., native competed for Anderson University and earned All-American status in 1996. He also was selected the Conference Most Valuable Performer in 1995 and 1997 and earned three all-conference honors in the discus. Jones was All-League in the shot put in 1997 and qualified for the NCAA National Championships three straight years.

Jones, whose has a daughter Cierra (9), is USA Track & Field Level I certified, and earned his bachelor's degree from Anderson in 1997. He later received a master's degree in athletic administration from Ball State in 2004.