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Women’s basketball is a sport that tends to go unnoticed in the sports world. Here at Moraine Valley coach Delwyn Jones has made women’s basketball one of the centerpieces of the athletic program.
Entering his 12th season as head coach here at Moraine Valley, coach Jones turned a losing program into a well-established program at Moraine Valley. Jones has been named Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year five times (2009-10, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2006-07 and 2003-04), won five conference championships (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) and also led his women to two Region IV championship games. Over the past five seasons, the Lady Cyclones have compiled a record of 117-42 with each season winning at least 20 games. They also have won four consecutive Skyway Conference crowns.
Jones attended Luther South High School where he was a four-sport athlete: football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country. Jones captained his basketball and baseball teams. Jones also received All-Private League honors in basketball and baseball. Jones enrolled to Western Illinois University where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in communications. Currently Jones is the assistant professor of communications/speech at Moraine Valley Community College.
Jones began his coaching career at his alma matter Luther South coaching men’s basketball during the summer before taking the job at Moraine Valley. “I’m a very competitive person. Basketball is a sport that connected to my heart for whatever reason.,” said Jones. “I love the strategy and the approach to try to win the game. It is a fun game to play and watch. Coaching the women’s game was not a major goal of mine. It was a situation where I had not planned on doing it for a long time but once I got involved I really appreciated the women’s game.”
Throughout his 12 years here at Moraine Valley Community College coach Jones has had many accomplishments that are notable, but according to coach Jones his greatest accomplishment is getting his players into four-year institutions. Coach Jones is more interested in developing his players on and off the court just like his coaching role model, former Georgetown coach George Thompson.
12 years, five Conference Coach of the Year awards and five conference titles, but there’s one thing missing in this outstanding coaches resume, a regional title. “I need a regional championship. We won a number of Skyway championships, which is an accomplishment because some schools have none. To win the regional championship would be cool. We have major disadvantages in recruitment compared to other schools in our region and to overcome those disadvantages and win the championship would be major.”
Currently, the 7-2 Cyclones are ranked 16th in the NJCAA Division II. “We’re hanging in there and getting better,” said coach Jones. With 20 games left in the season the girls are on pace to have yet another 20 win season. Hopefully, the women’s strong play will continue and coach Jones will finish the season hoisting his first regional championship.
