LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn has announced the appointment of Lucas Jones as head baseball coach and assistant professor of physical education effective July 10.
"It is with pleasure that I welcome Lucas Jones to our department and to our University community," said Hathorn. "Lucas has a unique blend of experiences and accomplishments as a student, a baseball player and a coach. Combined with his outstanding philosophy for developing student athletes and his proven track record of success on the diamond, Coach Jones has the tools and abilities to build upon the excellent work of his predecessor, Jeff Stickley, and carry Generals baseball forward. I am excited to work and serve beside Lucas for many years to come."
Jones comes to W&L from Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Va., where he served as the head coach for the past two seasons. His teams posted a 77-32 combined record during that time, including a second-place finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 finals in 2015. His 2014 team took fourth at the regional and he was named the NJCAA Regional Coach of the Year that year.
"I am so grateful to Ms. Jan Hathorn, the search committee, and Dr. Keen for their belief that I will represent the traditions set by legendary Coach Stickley and his staff," said Jones. "Washington and Lee University represents all that is great in Division III athletics, with its world-class education and athletic programs. I am proud to build a vision and culture around the founding principles already in place. From the moment I stepped foot on campus I knew this was where I would love to raise my family and embrace an exciting challenge in my professional career. Life is all about relationships and I thoroughly believe W&L embodies that brand. I am anxious to get started with my role as part of this campus community."
Prior to his tenure at PHCC, Jones served as an assistant baseball coach at George Mason University from 2010-13. In this role, he worked with the Patriots' hitters and also helped to coordinate the team's defense. The 2012 team won 33 games (33-24), advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament and saw two players selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
Jones also served as an assistant coach at Randolph-Macon from 2007-10, helping lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2008 ODAC title and recruiting the players that would go on to win another league championship in 2011.
He spent the 2006-07 season as a volunteer assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University, earning a master of science in Parks, Recreation and Sports Leadership. In his lone season with the Rams, they won the CAA title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Jones has also been a mentor in the Shenandoah Valley Summer League. He was the head coach of the New Market Rebels in 2009 and was an assistant coach with the Winchester Royals in 2007.
Jones is a 2005 magna cum laude graduate of Lynchburg College with a bachelor of arts in communications studies with a minor is sports management. He was a three-year starter at first base for the Hornets, finishing second all-time at LC with a .426 career batting average. He batted .481 in 2005 en route to earning First Team All-ODAC honors and the ODAC Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards. He also received ABCA First Team All-America honors and was a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America selection en route to being named the VaSID College Division Player of the Year and the Lynchburg College Male Athlete of the Year.