The Mycenaean

Jake Jones is a teacher at Leesville Road High School and head baseball coach. 

For the last eight years, he has been working at Leesville as a physical education and health teacher. Every spring, he doubles his duty to Leesville and becomes a leader for the baseball program. 

Beginning in December, Coach Jones will be moving away from the Leesville community to step into his new role — athletic director and head baseball coach for Robeson Community College.

Coach Jones is the first ever athletic hire for Robeson and has the chance to build their first baseball program. 

As Leesville wishes luck to Coach Jones, the community takes a step back to appreciate what he has accomplished being a part of the school.

Brett Kutner is a Leesville Road High School senior, baseball player, and first ever athletic commit to Robeson Community College. 

Coach Jones has been a role model for players like Kutner. The effect Coach Jones has had on his players is going to leave big shoes to fill. 

Kutner said, “Playing for Coach Jones is what I imagine having a big brother feels like. He loves all his guys.”

Coach Jones has a huge focus on growth for his players on and off the field. 

Jones said, “I just hope I made their lives better. I hope I led some of them to Christ that was kind of flirting with the idea. I just hope I made them better people in general, not just better baseball players.”

Jones maintains a working relationship with his players during the off season. At the beginning of the school year, he organizes workouts that focus on the physical and personal growth of players. The physical aspect includes strength training with a focus on lifting and understanding nutrition. On the personal side, he prioritizes creating a supportive environment, introducing spiritual guidance to those looking and creating a strong sense of team unity. 

Jones has flipped the script for Leesville baseball. Before he was the coach, the team — projected to be Top 25 in the state — ended with a losing record of 8-13. The season after Jones joined the baseball program, the team went to the 4th round of state playoffs and ended with a record of 18-3. 

Kutner said, “Even though Coach Jones is leaving, his legacy will carry on through his players… The message is already here, we just have to keep working.”

His influence as a baseball coach is one for the history books, but he has also been a teacher at Leesville Road. 

Ashan James, sophomore, had Jones as his PE teacher in the 2023-2024 school year. 

James said, “It is so easy to learn from him. It is not a stressful environment… whenever I walk past Coach Jones in the hall he will give me a head nod or ask me how my day is going.”

All of the students that have had an interaction with Coach Jones can testify to his good character and genuine care for each of them.

Coach Jone’s parting words are, “I will miss the kids and the faculty that continue to care about these kids.”

Leesville wishes Coach Jones and the Robeson athletic program the best of luck.