The Word On Rick Jones
Jan 30, 2007 | Baseball
"Coach Jones not only taught me many great things about baseball, he taught me the most important thing a collegiate athlete can learn, and that's how to be a better person."
-Michael Aubrey (2001-03), 2003 First Round Draft Pick of Cleveland
"What Coach Jones has done for me can never be repaid. He gave me the opportunity to play at one of the best universities in the country. He's not only a great coach, but a mentor and father figure. Playing for him was one of the best decisions I ever made. He's not only a great friend, but I also consider him part of my family. Tulane is one of the foundations of my life and he made sure I could be a part of it."
-Brandon Belanger (1999-2000), Healthcare Representative, Pfizer, Inc.
"After initially playing all of my life in my home town, Coach Jones embraced me into the Tulane family and always believed in my ability to grow as a ballplayer. He pushed me to not only be the best I could be on the field but to help and care for people in life outside of baseball."
-Brian Bormaster (2002-04), member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization
"It would be easy to look at all the success on the field that Tulane baseball has accomplished under Coach Jones and classify him as a winner, but an equally important quality in describing him is his dedication to his players off the field. He expects his players to be as well prepared in the classroom, and community as they are on the playing field."
-Craig Brown (1995-98), USA Baseball Board Member
"Growing up, my dream was to play baseball at Tulane. After meeting Coach Jones and seeing his desire to win, I knew I was making the perfect decision to be a part of his program. Coach Jones is without a doubt the hardest working coach I have ever been around, and his hard work has turned Tulane University into one of the best college baseball programs in the country."
-Andy Cannizaro (1998-2001), member of the New York Yankees
"During my three years at Tulane, Coach Jones taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, discipline and dealing with adversity. There is no doubt in my mind that my Tulane experiences have greatly benefited me in my professional baseball career. Coach Jones' passion for his players is unparalleled, and I am grateful for the time I spent at Tulane."
-Jack Cressend (1994-96), former Major League pitcher
"Playing under Coach Jones was the turning point of my career. He demands perfection and expects nothing less than 100 percent at all times. Coach Jones brings out the best in each player with his persistence and dedication to his job and his athletes. His knowledge and enthusiasm for both the game and his players is second to none. But what is more important is the friendship that Coach Jones and I developed throughout the years."
-Jake Gautreau (1999-2001), 2001 First Round Draft Pick of San Diego
"I chose Tulane for its strong combination of academics and athletics. I believe Tulane, and more specifically Coach Jones, have provided me a strong foundation for all my future pursuits."
-Tony Giarratano (2001-03), member of the Detroit Tigers organization
"Coach Jones taught me to get the most out of my abilities - as both a baseball player and a man. This has served me well in my business career and I will forever be grateful to him."
-Brian Gibbs (1991-94), Brian Gibbs Real Estate Development LLC
"Coach Jones makes everyone around him a better player, better coach or a better fan. He conducts conducts himself with the utmost professionalism and demands nothing less from his players. His ability to work with and develop players allows him to have a winning team every year."
-Mark Hamilton (2004-06), member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization
"The first attribute that comes to mind about Coach Jones is his passion for the game of baseball. That passion causes a ripple effect to other attributes that have made Tulane into the program it is today, such as his dedication and loyalty to his school and players. And one thing that is stressed in his program, which gets lost many times, is the molding of men on both sides of the white lines."
-Brian Hughes (1995-98), Account Executive at Pel Hughes Printing
"Coach Jones has had a greater impact on me than any coach I have played for. He is one of the primary reasons I decided to get into coaching. He has the ability to motivate every player on the field. He taught me life-long lessons that I use in my everyday life."
-Michael Johns (1996-97), head coach of Orange Park (Fla.) HS
"Coach Jones has made a difference not only in my professional career, but also in my personal life. I have never had a coach who stands by his players both on and off the field the way he does. He demanded excellence in every aspect of my college career, and I am better for it today. He is best described by his famous quote, `You can't love to win, you have to hate to lose!' This intensity funnels to his players and ultimately has built the Tulane baseball program into a true winner."
-James Jurries (1999-2001), member of the Atlanta Braves organization
"Coach Jones is an inspiring motivator who provides student-athletes the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball. Through his emphasis on teamwork and preparation, he instills values in players that transcend all aspects of life."
-Marcelo Llorente (1995-98), Florida State Representative, District 116
"I owe a lot to Coach Jones. When I was coming out of high school, he game me an opportunity that not many coaches were willing to give me. He has confidence in his players' ability and always teaches the importance of playing the game the right way. Most importantly, though, Coach Jones truly understands and believes in the balance between academics and athletics that makes Tulane such a special place."
-Tommy Manzella (2002-05), member of the Houston Astros organization
"To have the opportunity to play for Tulane and Coach Jones was truly a blessing. In my year there, I learned invaluable lessons both on and off the field. What my family and I value most are the lifetime relationships with Coach Jones and the Green Wave family."
,-Micah Owings (2005), member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization
"The heights that Coach Jones has taken the program and his on-field accolades speak for themselves. It will forever be the commitment that he made to me as an individual - both on and off the field - that stays with me. His belief and trust not only made me a better player, but a better person as well."
-David T. Stewart, M.D. (1991-94), Radiologist, Georgetown University Hospital
"Coach Jones has a unique attention to detail. It is his relentless pursuit for personal and team excellence that allows him to combine consistency and efficiency game after game, season after season. It's often said that baseball is a game of numbers. It is indisputable that Coach Jones' regular and post season accomplishments place him amongst the nation's elite coaches."
-Anthony Williams (1993-96), partner of Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson LLP
