Mark Jones joined the Sycamore program starting with the 2017 season.
"Mark brings a wealth of knowledge from his roles as a head coach, assistant coach and recruiter," Allman said. "His expertise both in the men's and women's game will help cultivate a higher level of play within the program and make a positive impact on our players' success on and off the court."
His impact on the program was immediate as he helped guide Indiana State to tied for fifth in Missouri Valley Conference play in his first season in the Wabash Valley as well as the program’s first-ever MVC Tournament win.
Jones brings with him extensive knowledge of the game after being at the helm of the Manhattan College volleyball program for the past eight seasons as well as coaching stints at Washington State, University of Maine and Tennessee State among others.
"I am very excited about joining the Indiana State volleyball family. I am looking forward to working with Lindsay Allman and helping her build a winning program at Indiana State," Jones said. "I also want to thank Athletic Director Sherard Clinkscales and Senior Associate Athletics Director Angie Lansing for this opportunity."
Jones led the Manhattan College to four trips to the MAAC Tournament and four 20-win campaigns over eight years and is one of only two coaches in Jaspers program history with over 100 victories. Jones led Manhattan to its third consecutive 20-win season in 2015, the first time in program history on their way to the team's third straight appearance in the MAAC semifinals.
Prior to working with the Jaspers, Jones spent a two-year stint as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Maine. Under his guidance, the Black Bears qualified for the America East Conference Tournament in 2008.
Before 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.
Jones began his collegiate coaching career in 1994 at Washington State where he served four years as the head men's club 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.
During his time as the women's volunteer 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. Additionally, the Cougars compiled a 46-26 Pac-10 mark and 91-33 overall record.
After one season as a Division I top assistant at Northwestern State, 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.
Jones received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State and played 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.
