Arkansas Tech University Women's Softball

The Jones File Alma Mater, Year Central Baptist (Ark.), 2015 Record at Arkansas Tech (Years) 54-45 (3rd season) Overall Record (Years) 207-121 (8th season) Jordon Jones enters her third year as head softball coach at Arkansas Tech. A native of Little Rock, Jones comes to Tech with five years of head coaching experience. Most-recently, Jones was the head softball coach at MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan. In her lone season at MidAmerica, Jones led the Pioneers to a 28-22 record and their first trip to the conference tournament since 2019.   Prior to her time at MidAmerica, Jones was the head coach of her alma mater, Central Baptist College in Conway. A former player and assistant coach at CBC, Jones took over the reins of Mustang softball in 2018 and guided the team a 42-19 record that was highlighted with an American Midwest Conference Tournament runner-up finish and eventually a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship.   During her four years at the helm at CBC, Jones posted a 126-57 overall record and went 57-12 in the AMC.   In her second season, Jones was named AMC Coach of the Year and led the team to a 35-21 overall record, a 20-4 conference record and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament. The following season was cut short due to COVID-19, but prior to cancelation of the season, Jones had her Mustangs off to a 15-2 start and a national ranking of No. 15. Her final season at CBC saw Jones lead the Mustangs back to the NAIA National Tournament after a 34-14 overall record and a 15-1 AMC record.   At CBC, Jones coached a Second Team NAIA All-American, an AMC Player of the Year, an AMC Freshman of the Year, four First Team All-AMC selections, and a pair of Second Team All-AMC selections.   As a player, Jones was an All-Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and all-region performer as well a second team NCCAA All-American in 2015. She was also a NAIA Scholar-Athlete twice and helped lead Central Baptist to an NCCAA National Tournament Appearance in 2015 and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2012, where the Mustangs finished fifth in the nation.   Jordon Jones Collegiate Head Coaching Career Year School Position Note(s) 2024 Arkansas Tech Head Coach * - 26-21 overall record and 17-16 record in GAC * - Advanced to GAC Tournament 2023 Arkansas Tech Head Coach * - 28-24 overall record and 17-15 record in GAC * - Advanced to GAC Tournament 2022 MidAmerica Nazarene Head Coach * - 28-22 overall record 2021 Central Baptist Head Coach * - 34-15 overall record  2020 Central Baptist Head Coach * - 15-2 overall record  * - Season canceled in mid-March due to COVID-19 2019 Central Baptist Head Coach * - 35-21 overall record  2018 Central Baptist Head Coach * - 42-19 overall record 

Avery Sanders enters into her first year as an assistant coach with the Golden Suns softball program. She will serve as the team’s pitching coach.   Before joining the staff at Tech, Sanders spent two years at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, where she served as the pitching coach. In her role, Sanders led the development of the pitching staff and outfielders, playing a key role in player performance and growth.   Additionally, Sanders brings six years of experience as a professional pitching instructor. In that role, she created and shared original drills through a dedicated Facebook page, gaining a strong following among young athletes and parents in her hometown of Thibodaux, Louisiana.   In Thibodaux, Sanders also coached for the XLR8 Softball travel team and served as a summer league coordinator at the Thibodaux Recreation Center (TREC). During league operations, she was the head director for both softball and baseball fields.   Academically, Sanders holds a Bachelor of Science in General Biology from Mississippi College. She also earned both an Associate of Science and an Associate of Arts from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.   As a player, Sanders had a standout collegiate career. At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, she pitched 202.1 innings, tallied 210 strikeouts, and recorded a 2.59 ERA. She posted a season-high 14 strikeouts in a single game against Marion Military Institute.   She continued her career at Mississippi College, where she pitched 268.1 innings, struck out 249 batters, and tied the school record for strikeouts in a single game with 13 against the University of Alabama at Huntsville.