Chambana Sun

The Southern Illinois Athletics Department has announced a Celebration of Life service for the esteemed coach Richard "Itch" Jones. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 11 a.m. CT and will take place at Itchy Jones Stadium. In case of adverse weather conditions, the service will be relocated to the Charles Helleny Pavilion inside Banterra Center.

Jones passed away on February 17, 2025, at the age of 87. He left behind an unparalleled legacy in collegiate baseball. His retirement in 2005 marked the end of a career that placed him as one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA history. At that time, he ranked 13th on the NCAA Division I wins list and eighth among active coaches.

During his tenure at Illinois, Jones led the team to significant victories including their first regular season Big Ten Championship in 35 years in 1998 and another title in his final season in 2005. Additionally, he guided them to a Big Ten Tournament championship in 2000.

At Southern Illinois University (SIU), Jones established a formidable program with seven Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular-season titles spanning from 1975 to 1990 and multiple MVC Tournament championships. His accolades include being named MVC Coach of the Year four times and Big Ten Coach of the Year twice. Nationally recognized, he was awarded NCAA Division I Diamond Baseball Coach of the Year in 1990 and received other national honors such as Adirondack National Coach of the Year in 1971 and The Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1977.

Throughout his extensive coaching career lasting nearly four decades, Jones mentored over twenty-two players who advanced to Major League Baseball (MLB). Notable major leaguers coached by him include Dave Stieb, Steve Finley, Scott Spiezio, and former Pittsburgh Pirate manager Derek Shelton. Many others have pursued successful careers within professional baseball or coaching roles at various levels.

A native of Herrin, Illinois, Jones was also known for his basketball prowess during his high school years before attending SIU where he excelled both academically and athletically. He earned his bachelor's degree from SIU in 1961 followed by a master's degree in 1965. As a student-athlete at SIU, he was a three-time All-Conference second baseman and also lettered as a starting point guard on the basketball team during his freshman year.

Jones's contributions to sports have been recognized through inductions into nine Hall of Fames including those associated with Herrin High School, Jacksonville High School, MacMurray College, Southern Illinois University Athletics among others.