Laney Jones enters her first year as pitching coach with the Patriots for the 2026 season
Laney joins the Patriots after three seasons at Valparaiso University. She was an assistant coach with the Beacons before being named the interim head coach for the 2024 season.
In her first season at Valparaiso in 2023, Jones' pitchers threw three one-hitters or better in a five-day span in April, highlighted by Caitlin Kowalski tossing a no-hitter at Bradley for the 12th no-hitter in program history.
Prior to her tenure at Valparaiso, Jones spent the 2022 season as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, where she worked with the Falcons pitching staff and helped the club lower its ERA by over a run from the previous season.
Jones pitched two years (2018, 2019) at Ashland University before transferring to Marshall. She won 21 games over her two seasons with the Eagles and was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection in 2019.
Jones finished up her collegiate career at Marshall University, where she pitched her final two seasons. In the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Jones ranked sixth nationally with four saves, tying the Thundering Herds single-season record. As a senior in 2021, she posted a 5-2 record, posted three shutouts and was twice named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week.
Jones graduated from Marshall with a bachelor's degree in sports management in 2021 and earned a master's degree in business administration and management from Notre Dame College in 2022.
