SJR State Baseball Coach Ross Jones Steps Down After Record-Breaking Career With Vikings

St. Johns River State College honored longtime head baseball coach Ross Jones following a historic 18 year coaching career that transformed the Vikings baseball program and established the most successful era in school history. “Baseball’s been my life; but it’s time,” Jones said. “This is about taking care of myself, my family and the grandchildren. It’s a family decision.”

After leading the Vikings for nearly two decades, Jones is stepping away from baseball, but will remain as the school’s athletic director. During his tenure, he built a nationally respected program, guided student-athletes to several championship appearances and became the winningest baseball coach in school history. Earlier this year, Jones earned his 594th career victory, surpassing longtime coach and mentor John Tindall for the most wins in program history.

That milestone victory came on April 3 during a win against Florida State College at Jacksonville and marked another defining moment in Jones’ long career with the Vikings. John Tindall, whose name remains attached to the Palatka campus baseball field, recorded 593 wins during his 30 years coaching at SJR State from 1963 to 1993.

Despite the achievement, Jones credited his players rather than focusing on personal recognition. “It says more about the players than it does about me,” Jones said. “I’m not the one on the field making the plays.”

Jones joined the SJR State coaching staff in 2008 and quickly elevated the baseball program into one of the top junior college teams in Florida. During his tenure, he led the Vikings to three consecutive Mid-Florida Conference Championships, nine appearances in the FCSAA State/NJCAA Region 8 Tournament and two trips to the NJCAA Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma.

Under Jones’ leadership, the Vikings consistently competed at a high level while also producing professional baseball talent. Several former players have advanced to Major League Baseball organizations after developing under Jones’ coaching and recruiting system. His teams also earned national rankings and set school records, including a historic 47-win season in 2015 that pushed the Vikings to the No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA national poll for the first time in program history.

Jones brought decades of baseball experience to the role before arriving at SJR State. After graduating from Palatka High School in 1984, the Texas Rangers selected him in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. He spent seven seasons pitching for the minor league affiliates of the Texas Rangers and Montreal Expos before transitioning into coaching. His coaching career also included assistant coaching positions at Vanderbilt University, the University of Florida and the University of North Florida. During those years, Jones helped recruit nationally ranked classes and coached numerous pitchers who later signed professional contracts.

At SJR State, Jones helped strengthen not only the baseball program, but also the college’s athletic identity. The school continued investing in the Vikings baseball facilities during his tenure, including field renovations, new grandstands, updated dugouts, and a covered practice facility. Campus and community leaders praised Jones for mentoring generations of student-athletes while representing the Palatka community with professionalism and integrity. Many former players credited Jones with helping shape their careers both on and off the field. Ross Jone’s legacy and impact on SJR State goes way beyond baseball, said SJR State President Joe Pickens, praising Jones’ transformative impact on the entire athletic department. “I could not have had a better partner to create a standard and completely elevate the school’s sports culture from scratch,” Pickens said.

Jones also maintained a close relationship with Tindall throughout his career and often reflected on the influence the legendary coach had on him while growing up around Vikings baseball. Although Jones never played for Tindall, he said he spent much of his youth watching him coach and learning from the culture he created at SJR State.

Looking forward, Jones said the decision to retire was made easier by leaving the program in the hands of assistant baseball coach Matt Kennedy. “Having Matt Kennedy on my staff the past three years really helped make this decision easier for me,” Jones said. “I trust Matt with this program. I know that he will continue to build upon what we’ve accomplished.” Kennedy’s career includes the Director of Player Development and Director of Operation at Kent State University; the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Butler University in Indianapolis, and head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Saint Leo University.

As Jones stepped away from the dugout, he left behind a program defined by consistency, player development and championship success. More importantly, he left a lasting impact on generations of student-athletes who continued carrying forward the tradition of Vikings baseball.