PULLMAN, Wash. – Former Washington State catcher and graduate assistant coach P.J. Jones been named the Cougars Volunteer Assistant Coach, head coach Marty Lees announced Monday. Jones was the team's graduate assistant coach this past season, also serving as the first base coach for much of the year.
"P.J. did a great job for us last season and we are excited to promote him to our volunteer assistant position," Lees said. "It has been great to have P.J. back in a Cougar uniform. He played, and now coaches with a ton of energy, enthusiasm and knowledge. He's going to be a very good coach."
The Vancouver, Wash. native was a four-year letterwinner at catcher for the Cougars (2012-15) and was selected in the 19th round of the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners in 2015. Jones appeared in 168 games for the Cougars, making 148 career starts and recorded 135 hits, 17 doubles, two home runs, 63 RBI, 18 stolen bases and a career .987 fielding percentage.
Jones played one season for the Single-A short-season Everett AquaSox before spending the 2016 season as a player/coach for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners Triple-A affiliate.
Jones earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences from Washington State in 2015. As a senior, Jones earned a spot on the WSU Athletics All-Academic Team and was the recipient of the Rob Oviatt Strength and Conditioning Award, given to the student-athlete who possesses a great attitude toward training, leadership and work ethic.
"P.J. did a great job for us last season and we are excited to promote him to our volunteer assistant position," Lees said. "It has been great to have P.J. back in a Cougar uniform. He played, and now coaches with a ton of energy, enthusiasm and knowledge. He's going to be a very good coach."
The Vancouver, Wash. native was a four-year letterwinner at catcher for the Cougars (2012-15) and was selected in the 19th round of the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners in 2015. Jones appeared in 168 games for the Cougars, making 148 career starts and recorded 135 hits, 17 doubles, two home runs, 63 RBI, 18 stolen bases and a career .987 fielding percentage.
Jones played one season for the Single-A short-season Everett AquaSox before spending the 2016 season as a player/coach for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners Triple-A affiliate.
Jones earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences from Washington State in 2015. As a senior, Jones earned a spot on the WSU Athletics All-Academic Team and was the recipient of the Rob Oviatt Strength and Conditioning Award, given to the student-athlete who possesses a great attitude toward training, leadership and work ethic.