Jones Named New MVHS Head Baseball Coach

Monte Jones will replace Scott Widner as the head coach of the Nighthawks’ baseball team after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the Murrieta Valley High School program, it was announced Wednesday.

Jones has been a teacher and a coach at Murrieta Valley for the past 12 years, according to a news release from the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. For two of those years, he served as the head football coach at Cornerstone Christian where he received Coach of the Year honors.

He brings a great deal of diverse coaching experience to the table, ranging from being a player coach at Cypress Junior College in 1992, pitching batting practice to the Anaheim Angels in 1995, and coaching baseball at Diamond Bar High School and Murrieta Valley, the news release stated.

Monte has been a part of the Murrieta Valley baseball staff during its most successful seasons. He was a part of the 2004 semi-final team, 2006 second round team when he was the head coach, and the 2009 quarter-final team.

“I would like to continue the great tradition at Murrieta Valley High School, and I am excited about being entrusted by the administrative staff at MVHS to lead their baseball program," Jones stated. "I look forward to working alongside administration, the student athletes, and the parents of Murrieta Valley Baseball to not only have a positive effect on our site but to extend a positive influence into our community.”

Jones was a two-sport athlete at Tustin High School. He received all-league honors on the football and baseball field. He was an All-CIF selection at Tustin High School in baseball where he earned an athletic scholarship to play at Cal State Northridge. While at Cal State Northridge he participated in the Division II College World Series.

After experiencing an injury he transferred and played at Cypress Junior College where he played on the 1991 Junior College State Championship team. During his time at Cypress Junior College, Jones was able to earn another scholarship to play at Iowa State University.

Incoming Principal Eric Mooney welcomed Jones to the position.

“At every step of the search process, his name was consistently mentioned as a tremendous candidate and we are so happy to have Monte provide the leadership and direction for our program," Mooney stated.

Previous head baseball Coach Scott Widner stepped down in June, The Press-Enterprise reported at the time.