The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Softball's Julie Jones Inducted Into Summit County Softball Hall Of Fame
November 05 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio– University of Akron softball head coach Julie Jones was inducted into the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame this past weekend.
"What an honor to enter the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame. I am and always have been so proud to be from Akron and to join this group of great players and coaches is humbling. Making it even more special is the fact that I entered with one of my own players, Amy Kyler, who now leads the program we worked so hard to build at CSU," said Jones. "I have been so blessed to be a Garfield Golden Ram, a Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jacket, a Cleveland State Viking and, of course, an Akron Zip. The game of softball has been very good to me. I will continue to work to give it back what it deserves,"
Coach Jones was one of 12 inductees' to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame for their softball success inside Summit County.
Jones, who played softball at Garfield High School, was listed as one of the top 40 all-time softball players of influence in Summit County. Her jersey was retired at Garfield High School.
Following her high school career, Jones went on to play at Baldwin Wallace University. As a four-year starter, Jones led the Yellow Jackets to the 1992 NCAA Tournament and was named an All-Region and All-Conference honoree. Jones was inducted into the Baldwin Wallace Hall of Fame in 2013.
She went on to coach at Cleveland State from 1993 to 2005 and was then named coach at the University of Akron.
Jones enters her 13thseason at the helm of the Zips. Since taking over the Akron program, Jones has mentored 21 All-MAC honorees, five NCAA All-Mideast Region selections, 36 Academic All-MAC student-athletes, eight Academic All-District selections, two Academic All-Americans, the 2014 MAC Pitcher of the Year, the 2016 prestigious MAC Nan Harvey award winner, and the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year. These honorees and their teammates have rewritten the UA record books for pitching, home runs in a season and in base running categories as a perennial NCAA leader in stolen bases.
"So well deserved. Julie is a great role model for every student-athlete she has ever coached. Her dedication to the sport of softball and the influence she has on all her players has changed the lives of so many," said associate head coach Julie Pratt. "Julie has been such an amazing boss and friend over the last 14 years and I am blessed to be by her side. I am incredibly proud of her and all her accomplishments on and off the field. This hall of fame honor is only one of several she has been inducted into, which goes without saying how incredible she was as a player and coach."
"What an honor to enter the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame. I am and always have been so proud to be from Akron and to join this group of great players and coaches is humbling. Making it even more special is the fact that I entered with one of my own players, Amy Kyler, who now leads the program we worked so hard to build at CSU," said Jones. "I have been so blessed to be a Garfield Golden Ram, a Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jacket, a Cleveland State Viking and, of course, an Akron Zip. The game of softball has been very good to me. I will continue to work to give it back what it deserves,"
Coach Jones was one of 12 inductees' to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame for their softball success inside Summit County.
Jones, who played softball at Garfield High School, was listed as one of the top 40 all-time softball players of influence in Summit County. Her jersey was retired at Garfield High School.
Following her high school career, Jones went on to play at Baldwin Wallace University. As a four-year starter, Jones led the Yellow Jackets to the 1992 NCAA Tournament and was named an All-Region and All-Conference honoree. Jones was inducted into the Baldwin Wallace Hall of Fame in 2013.
She went on to coach at Cleveland State from 1993 to 2005 and was then named coach at the University of Akron.
Jones enters her 13thseason at the helm of the Zips. Since taking over the Akron program, Jones has mentored 21 All-MAC honorees, five NCAA All-Mideast Region selections, 36 Academic All-MAC student-athletes, eight Academic All-District selections, two Academic All-Americans, the 2014 MAC Pitcher of the Year, the 2016 prestigious MAC Nan Harvey award winner, and the 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year. These honorees and their teammates have rewritten the UA record books for pitching, home runs in a season and in base running categories as a perennial NCAA leader in stolen bases.
"So well deserved. Julie is a great role model for every student-athlete she has ever coached. Her dedication to the sport of softball and the influence she has on all her players has changed the lives of so many," said associate head coach Julie Pratt. "Julie has been such an amazing boss and friend over the last 14 years and I am blessed to be by her side. I am incredibly proud of her and all her accomplishments on and off the field. This hall of fame honor is only one of several she has been inducted into, which goes without saying how incredible she was as a player and coach."
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