Alma Mater: Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Degree: Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education
Richard Jones comes to U of M, Crookston from the Westfield Youth Soccer Association in Westfield, Ind. where he served as the Girls’ Director of Coaching. His responsibilities included oversight and coaching of all the girls’ travel teams. Jones also served as an Indiana Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff coach and a coaching education instructor with Indiana Youth Soccer. During his time with Indiana ODP, his teams won the 2007 ODP Region II Championship and the 2008 ODP National Championship.
Prior to his time in Westfield, he spent the 2007 season as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the women’s soccer program at Indiana State University. Jones was the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the men’s soccer program at Valparaiso University from 2006-2007. While at Valparaiso, he coached the Northwest Indiana United ‘92 Girls’ team to the semifinals of the Indiana State Cup and to a number two ranking in the state of Indiana. Jones also served as a student assistant coach with the men’s soccer program at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI) from 2000-2001. Jones has coached two players who are currently in residency with the Under-17 Men’s National Team, multiple state and regional ODP players, as well as multiple all-district and all-state players. He also brings numerous other club and high school coaching experiences in addition to holding a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “B” License, National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Advanced National Diploma and a USSF National Youth License.
"I want to thank Stephanie Helgeson, Chancellor Casey and the entire U of M, Crookston community for allowing me the wonderful opportunity to be the head coach of the Golden Eagles Soccer program,” says Coach Jones. “I feel this program has the ability to achieve things that have never been done at U of M, Crookston before. I feel very well prepared to lead the Golden Eagles soccer program as I have been blessed to be mentored by some of the best soccer coaches in the midwest."
Jones attended Carthage College (Wis.) for three years where he played soccer and ran track before graduating from IUPUI in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education in August of 2001.
