CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University men’s swimming and diving coaching legend Mike Jones will be inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame the league office announced Friday, March 11. The 2016 MAC Hall of Fame Induction Class will be inducted Wednesday, June 1, during the MAC Honor’s Dinner at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel.
The four inductees are Patricia ‘Tish’ Bucher (Miami, women’s swimming and diving), Sarah Powers Barnhard (Western Michigan, volleyball), Marcy Weston (Central Michigan, administration) and Jones.
“It is only appropriate for our Conference to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our former students, coaches and administrators, specifically these four individuals, and their achievements during their time competing in the Mid-American Conference,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, MAC Commissioner. “We are honored to welcome them to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame.”
A long-time coach of the Green and White, Jones took over the program in 1967 and held the post for 21 years before his retirement at the conclusion of the 1997-98 campaign. Under the guidance of Jones the Eagles claimed four NAIA National Championships and one NCAA-College Division National Championship while also making the transition from an independent program to a member of the MAC.
One of the most successful coaches in MAC history, it tooks just four years to put Eastern Michigan at the forefront of the conference. After turning in a second-place finish, two thirds, and a fourth in EMU’s first four seasons as a part of the league, Jones guided the Green and White to nine consecutive MAC Championships dating from the 1979-80 campaign to the 1987-88 season after recording the program’s first-ever league title in 1977-78.
Jones was honored as the MAC Coach of the Year nine times during his coaching career in addition to being named Co-Coach of the Year once. He led the Eagles to a 176-45 overall dual record and an incredible 103-12 conference dual mark, highlighted by a 48-dual meet win streak during his tenure. Jones’ 176 dual wins rank second in program history to only current EMU Head Coach Peter Linn.
Jones contributions to collegiate swimming reached far past his leadership at Eastern Michigan, receiving numerous awards over the course of his coaching career, including the state of Michigan proclaiming Feb. 27, 1971, Mike Jones Day. He was also honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as the recipient of the Master Coach Award for his achievements in coaching. Jones was inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
One year after his retirement in 1988, the Eagles home pool was officially renamed the Michael H. Jones Natatorium in his honor. He was an Eagle through and through, receiving his undergraduate degree from EMU in 1955 before going on to earn two master’s degrees from Eastern. Jones passed away suddenly, Nov. 4, 2009, and is survived by his wife Judy, sons Kyle and Jay, and four grandchildren.
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year’s class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 81 individuals from 11 classes.
Tickets are available for the MAC Honor’s Dinner Wednesday, June 1, at 6 p.m. at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel. Individual tickets ($100 each) and a table of 10 ($950) are available for purchase. Contact Julie Kachner at the Mid-American Conference office at 216.566.4622.
Swimming news courtesy of EMU Swimming & Diving.