Russ Jones

Marshalltown Community College has named Russ Jones as its new head softball coach, replacing Dominic Ellis after just one season.

Jones has previously served as the head softball coach at DMACC for seven seasons, and was at one time the first commissioner of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.

He has also been the head men’s basketball coach at DMACC.

Jones took a break from coaching after his three and a half years serving as the commissioner of the ICCAC, focusing on family. He continued to coach club softball but decided it was time to get back into the collegiate ranks after his daughter Mikayla graduated from Minnesota-Crookston this past spring.

“I have always loved coaching and missed it,” Jones said. “I missed coaching when my daughter first went to college, even though I continued to hep with club teams in Des Moines.

“When I left DMACC, my wife always said when I was ready to get back into coaching she would support me. MCC has given me that opportunity to return.”

Assistant coach Ashley Frantz will return to the MCC softball coaching staff, while Jones is also in the process of hiring Kirk Steinfeldt as the Tigers’ new hitting coach.

“My immediate goal for this year is improving on last year. I’ve given myself three years to compete with bigger schools like Indian Hills, DMACC and Kirkwood,” Jones said. “If we aren’t competing with them, I’m not doing my job.”