Head women’s basketball coach Carlos Palacio has announced that LaShawn Jones will join his staff as the program’s assistant coach for the 2017-18 season. Jones comes to PBA after serving as a graduate assistant at Missouri Western State the past two years.
Jones helped guide the Griffons to a 21-8 record in 2016-17 including a 13-6 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, good enough for fourth place in the league. In her first year at Missouri Western, Jones and the Griffons won a school-record 27 games in securing their first MIAA title since 2002. The Griffons set a new conference record with 20 conference wins in the regular season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
“I am very excited for LaShawn to join our women’s basketball program,” said Palacio. “She brings vast experience at both the Division I and II levels. She had success as a player at Oklahoma State and was an integral part of the success at Missouri Western State the past two years. Her passion and enthusiasm will be a benefit to not only the women’s basketball program but to Palm Beach Atlantic University.”
Prior to joining the staff at Missouri Western, Jones was a four-year member of the Oklahoma State women’s basketball team. She appeared in 113 games, including starting 64, during her career culminating with a career-best senior season in which she averaged 10.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. She was named as an honorable mention to the Big 12 Conference team after her senior year. At OSU, Jones was a starter for the 2013-14 team that made a run to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Sweet 16, one of three times the Cowgirls appeared in the NCAA Tournament. She was also a member of the team in 2012 that won the WNIT Championship.
“I want to thank Coach Palacio for the opportunity to be a part of the Sailfish family,” said Jones. “It is a blessing and honor to be part of the women’s basketball program. I am excited to start working with the team and help continue to build the program towards future success.”
Palacio is entering his sixth year in charge of the Sailfish and led the team to their most successful season in their Division II era in 2015-16, finishing 13-13 overall. The Sailfish are expected to become a full and active member of the Sunshine State Conference later this summer.
http://pbasailfish.com/news/2017/7/14/lashawn-jones-tabbed-assistant-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
