Itch Jones

Richard C. "Itch" Jones (February 15, 1938 – February 17, 2025) was an American college baseball coach. Jones coached the Southern Illinois Salukis from 1970 to 1990 and the Illinois Fighting Illini from 1991 to 2005. Jones was twice named the national college baseball coach of the year.

Jones was born on February 15, 1938, in Herrin, Illinois.^[1] He broke his leg while in third grade, and the cast he had to wear caused severe itching. To get a measure of relief, he stuck a flyswatter handle between the cast and his leg. His cousin, Albert, nicknamed him "Itchy". The nickname stuck, though in later years it was shortened to "Itch".^[2]

Jones attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and played college baseball as a second baseman for the Southern Illinois Salukis. He graduated in 1960. Jones then played professional baseball for one year in the Baltimore Orioles minor-league system. In 1961, Jones accepted a position at Jacksonville High School coaching freshman football and junior varsity basketball. In 1964, Jones was promoted to head varsity basketball coach. In 1964, Jones led his JHS team to the Sweet Sixteen in the Illinois High School basketball tournament.^[1]

Jones became head baseball coach at MacMurray College in 1966.^[3] He returned to Southern Illinois as an assistant under Joe Lutz in 1968, becoming head coach in 1970. In 21 years, he led the Salukis to 10 NCAA Division I baseball tournaments and three College World Series. His best team was the 1971 unit, which came within one game of winning the national title. His record of 738 wins are the most of any coach for the Southern Illinois baseball.^[1]

In 1991, Jones became the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He won his 1,000th game as a college head coach on April 8, 1998.^[4] In 15 years, he compiled a record of 474–373–1, including two Big Ten Conference regular-season titles, a Big Ten Tournament title in 2000, and two NCAA tournament appearances. He retired after the 2005 season. At the time of his retirement, he was the 15th winningest coach in collegiate baseball history.^[5]

Twenty of Jones' players went on to play in the major leagues, including Dave Stieb, Steve Finley, and Scott Spiezio.^[1] He was named national coach of the year twice, in 1971 and 1977.^[2] Jones won the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year Award four times and the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year Award twice.^[6] He was inducted into the halls of fame for the Missouri Valley Conference, American Baseball Coaches Association, Illinois High School Association, Southern Illinois University, MacMurray College, Jacksonville High School, and Herrin High School.^[7] In 2014, Southern Illinois renovated their baseball stadium and dedicated it as Itchy Jones Stadium.^[8][9]

Jones and his wife, Sue, an elementary school teacher, had two children.^[10][11] In December 2000, Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer. He underwent radiation and chemotherapy, as well as two surgeries, and went into remission in July 2001.^[12]

Jones died of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in Gore, Oklahoma, on February 17, 2025, at the age of 87.^[1]

• List of college baseball career coaching wins leaders

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Minor league stats
• SIU Alumni page