Head Coach Missey Jones Announces Retirement After 14 Seasons

TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa head women's golf coach Missey Jones has announced her retirement after 14 seasons at the helm of the program.

Jones was hired as the first coach in program history on September 21, 2010, and led the Spartans from a new program to a national contender in the nation's premier golf conference (Sunshine State Conference).

She led the Spartans to four NCAA Tournaments, with the first coming in 2019. In 2021, her team won the NCAA South Regional as she was honored as the South Region Coach of the Year. Her teams twice advanced beyond the regional to the NCAA Championships, coming in 2021 and 2023.

Including individuals, Jones coached in a total of six NCAA Tournaments, as she coached Kiira Riihijarvi to an NCAA South Region championship in 2017 and 2021. She most recently coached Ana Maria Jimenez Rios to a fourth-place NCAA South Regional finish in 2024 after Jimenez Rios won the 2023 NCAA South Regional.

Under Jones, a total for nine Spartan golfers have earned the distinction of being named All-Americans. Additionally, Riihijarvi was a two-time national player of the year, coming in 2020 and 2021. She also guided her golfers to three SSC Golfer of the Year awards.

Her leadership also propelled Riihijarvi to become the first LPGA golfer in program history. In total, Jones spent a total of 38 years in coaching and education.