Crown College Women's Softball

Jones enters his second season as the head coach for the Crown Softball program in 2026. Jones guided two players to Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) postseason awards list, including Emmy Romportl and Maria Lilienthal. After his first season Jones helped Crown improve on team earned run average and win percentage. Prior to that, Coach Jones was the head softball coach for Glencoe-Silver Lake High School from 2020-24. Over those 5 years he led the program to a record of 72-32. In the 2024 season, the team won the section 5AA playoffs, clinching a spot in the Minnesota High School Softball State Tournament and Coach Jones was selected as the Section 5AA Coach of the Year.  Prior to his time at Glencoe-Silver Lake Jones spent time at Crown as a Graduate Assistant for the softball program from 2013-15 and coached men's basketball from 2013-16. After completing his master's in organizational leadership in 2015 from Crown College, he stayed on the softball staff as an assistant coach while teaching in Waconia until the spring of 2017. He has also been an adjunct Professor at Crown since 2017, teaching Methods of Elementary and Secondary Physical Education, Developmental Adaptive Physical Education, PE/Health, Fitness Eval & Diagnosis, and online Personal Physical Fitness. As an athlete, Jones competed in basketball at Crown from 2009-13. He totaled 1,014 career points, a 38.8% three-point percentage, and 300 career assists. Current head basketball coach Luke Herbert said, "Taylor is one of the best coaches I've ever been around.  His ability to teach the requisite skills of the game, improve players while putting them into a position to succeed, and relate to everyone on the roster while creating a positive experience for the entire team is incredibly impressive.  I'm so excited that he's back home at Crown College and can't wait to see the job he does with Crown softball.  If I'm lucky, he'll pop into the gym every once in a while and give me some pointers as well!" Coach's Mission: As the head softball coach at Crown College, my mission is to support players in their faith, education, and athletic development. We aim to embody Christ’s teachings in all aspects of our lives, both on and off the field. Education: Crown College – Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Health Education, and Christan Studies and minor in Health and Coach [2013] Crown College – Masters in Organizational Leadership [2015] University of Minnesota State Mankato – Masters Certificate in Developemental Adaptive Physical Education [2019] Experience: Crown College, Softball Head Coach [2024-Present] Glencoe-Silver Lake, Varsity Softball Coach [2020-2024] Crown College, Student Assistant, Graduate Assistant, and Assistant Coach for the Softball program [2013-2017] Crown College, Assistant Coach for the Men's Basketball program [2013-16] Personal Information: Coach Jones lives in Mayer, MN with his wife Dr. Lexy Jones (Professor of History/Teacher Education at Crown College), and two sons Isaiah and Leo. The Jones family are currently members at Oakwood Community Church in Waconia, MN. Career Record (at Crown): Year                 Record             UMAC             UMAC Finish               Postseason 2024-25           17-20                 8-10                       5th                        Overall             17-20                8-10

Coach Martinek enters his second season with the Polars as the outfield and base running coach, while also making valuable contributions across all areas of the program. In just his first season, Coach Martinek made an immediate impact, helping the team achieve a massive defensive improvement. Under his guidance, the Polars nearly cut their errors in half and almost doubled their stolen bases—a testament to his effectiveness on both sides of the game. His work with the outfielders has been especially impactful as he focuses on developing their skills, confidence, and mental toughness, all of which played a key role in the team’s success. Beyond the stats, Coach Martinek brings unmatched energy and enthusiasm to the team, creating a positive and competitive environment that motivates players to reach their potential. Talk about an instant impact! Coach Martinek, his wife, Andrea, and their 3 kids have been a great addition to the Polars Softball family. Andrew is a Minnesota State Trooper and volunteer firefighter, and he has done a great job of helping our program connect with the community.