Mann bows out after 13 seasons; Jones named new head coach at MC

Release Date: February 24, 2005

Dennis Mann

Melissa Jones

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Dennis Mann’s 13-year basketball coaching career at Monmouth College ended with a win Saturday, as the Fighting Scots’ women’s team wrapped up the 2004-05 campaign with a 69-56 victory over Knox College.

Effective immediately, the head coaching job will be assumed by assistant women’s basketball coach and former Fighting Scot star Melissa Jones.

“Dennis is a long and valued employee of the college, and we certainly thank him for his many years of service with the basketball program,” said MC athletic director Dr. Terry Glasgow.

“At one time a few years ago, he was coaching three varsity sports, which requires a considerable amount of time and energy on and off the court,” said Glasgow of Mann, who is a full-time teacher in the United school district. “That being said, we’re hopeful that our women’s basketball team will be able to take the next step quicker with a full-time coach. Melissa is a full-time member of our athletic department staff, and we certainly feel she is qualified and capable of taking the program to that next step and helping the Fighting Scots become one of the elite teams in the Midwest Conference.”

Saturday’s win was the 118th of Mann’s career and his final record, which stands at 118-173, includes 19 victories and just seven defeats against Knox. No other MC women’s basketball coach has won more games than Mann.

His high-water mark with the basketball program came in the 1997-98 season when the Scots went 16-8 and reached the MWC playoffs for the first and only time in school history. The Scots followed up that season with back-to-back 12-win campaigns. This year, the Scots posted their second straight 6-17 season.

“Both Dennis and I agree that the foundation is there – with the addition of a key recruit or two – for the women’s basketball team to reach the next plateau,” said Glasgow.

Jones, a 2003 Monmouth College graduate, finished her career as the school’s third-leading scorer with 1,318 points. She was selected to the All-MWC basketball squad in all four seasons. Also a member of the Scots’ volleyball and track teams, Jones was named all-conference an amazing 15 times out of a possible 16 athletic seasons. Her All-American career was completed in style with her selection as Illinois’ NCAA Woman of the Year winner in 2003. She was also a top 10 finalist for the national award.

“We are extremely pleased to have an individual in house with the qualities and capabilities that Melissa possesses,” said Glasgow. “She is an outstanding individual, a great athlete and an outstanding role model for our student-athletes. I know in her role as an assistant that she’s already been hard at work on recruiting for the 2005-06 season, and I feel very confident in handing over the head coaching reins to her.”

Women's Basketball Homepage