The University of South Florida women's tennis team added a key component to its staff in the beginning of the season with the help of the new volunteer assistant coach and former professional tennis player Kelly Jones.
Jones can be easily recognized by some of his outstanding accomplishments as both a player and a coach. In addition to being ranked the World's No. 1 men's doubles player in 1992, he was also a member of the USA Olympic tennis team in 1984.
"There is nothing better than playing for your country," said Jones. "For tennis players, the pinnacle is not the Olympics like it is for many other sports, but being in that kind of atmosphere is second to none as to anything I have ever experienced."
Jones is a longtime friend and former collegiate teammate of USF women's tennis coach Agustin Moreno. Both Jones and Moreno competed together for Pepperdine University and had enormous success while playing for the Waves.
During his four years at Pepperdine, Jones was a four-time All-American and captured the NCAA Division I doubles title in both 1984 and 1985. Moreno earned a No. 4 national ranking in doubles and helped the Waves take home the indoor
Moreno played one season (1985-86) at Pepperdine and earned a No. 4 national ranking in doubles and helping the Waves to the Indoor Championship as well as an appearance in the NCAA Championship title match.
Jones is no stranger to the coaching scene either. Over the past decade, he has coached high-profile professional tennis players such as USA's Mardy Fish and Belgian's Xavier Malisse.
Both Fish and Malisse have been ranked in the ATP's top 20 throughout their young careers including wins over tennis greats such as Leyton Hewitt, James Blake and the world's top player, Roger Federer. Along with the high rankings, with the coaching help of Jones, the two have notched a combined six million dollars in prize money and own a total of five career titles.
"After I was done playing I knew I wanted to be a tennis coach at the highest level," said Jones. "There is a lot more to coaching than just being a good player. You can't just play tennis and expect to be a good coach. There is a lot to learn and my six years with the USTA taught me a lot."
Jones also coached former USF tennis star Courtney Vernon. During her time as a Bull, Vernon went a perfect 20-0 at the No. 2 position in dual play during her sophomore year.
"Courtney has been doing very well lately," said Jones. "She is injured at that moment with a continuation of a problem that she had here at USF. However, she had some really good results this past summer in Australia and has a bright future ahead of her."
Now teaming up as coaches for the Bulls, Jones recognizes Moreno as the right man for the job.
"He is a great guy and a great coach. Since Moreno has been here, he has built a very solid team," said Jones. "It usually takes three to five years after a new coach comes in to build a new program and I think that is the case with Moreno. I will be surprised if USF is not a top 10 team in a couple of years."
Without a doubt, Jones is going to be a tremendous asset to the Bulls this year and it is evident that he is ready to take on the challenge with high hopes for USF.
"I would like to see USF be the National Champions and there is no reason why we shouldn't be," said Jones. "We are right in the middle of the best tennis in the world so I figured if there was any way I could help out at all I would do it. And here I am."
The USF women's team returns to action on Sunday, March 30 when they face the University of South Carolina Upstate at 10 a.m. at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. The Bulls are currently 14-5 on the season and are sporting a seven-match win streak coming into the weekends contest. Admission to all USF tennis events is free to the public.
