SIU community gathers to honor legendary coach Richard “Itchy” Jones
10/28/2025 | 4:44:00 | Baseball, General
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Family, friends, and generations of former players filled Itchy Jones Stadium on Saturday morning to celebrate the life and legacy of legendary Saluki baseball coach Richard "Itchy" Jones. The event brought together those who knew him best; from athletes and colleagues to family and lifelong friends.
Richard "Itchy" Jones passed away on February 17, 2025, just two days after his 87th birthday, following a two-year battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A Herrin native, Jones devoted more than four decades to the game of baseball and the players he coached. He led SIU baseball from 1970 to 1990, winning 738 games, the most in school history. Under his leadership, the Salukis made appearances in 10 NCAA Tournaments and three College World Series appearances. He later spent 15 seasons at the University of Illinois, capturing Big Ten titles and helping dozens of athletes reach the professional level.
Throughout his entire career, Jones recorded 1,242 wins, placing him among the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I history. A nine-time Hall of Fame inductee, he earned national honors with both SIU and Illinois while becoming one of college baseball's most respected teachers. Those who spoke at today's event remembered "Itchy" as a mentor with a quick wit who created a lifelong legacy to the sport of baseball.
Saturday's ceremony was led by longtime Saluki Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Mike Reis. Reis called SIU baseball games for more than four decades, many of them when Jones served as head coach. He shared a series of personal stories that revealed both the competitive fire and the quick wit that made Jones so beloved.
"When people tell Itchy stories, they're always unique to him," Reis said. "Only Itch would tell you after his 300th win that when he goes home, he's not celebrating—he's mowing the lawn." Reis also recalled Jones' deep loyalty to SIU Baseball, often donating to the program anonymously and refusing credit. "Only Itchy Jones would look at his name on the press box and ask if he could get his money back," Reis said with a smile. "There was no one like him."
Former Saluki outfielder Scott Bridges, who played under Jones from 1981 to 1984, spoke about the coach's spiritual leadership and the values he instilled beyond the diamond. "Coach Jones was more than a baseball legend," Bridges said. "He was a man of deep character, unwavering integrity, and quiet strength. His faith guided how he coached, how he treated people, and how he lived." Bridges described how Jones' life reflected the biblical lessons of service and humility. "Itch never pushed his faith on anyone," he said. "But he lived it in a way you couldn't ignore. He taught us that greatness isn't measured by wins, but by the lives you touch."
Dewey Robinson, a former Saluki pitcher who went on to coach professionally, remembered Jones as both mentor and father figure. "Itch was like a second father to me," Robinson said. "He was always there—whether it was taking my calls, asking about my family, or reminding me what it means to do things the right way."
Robinson says he shared many of his favorite memories from his playing days with Itchy Jones. "One time, he told me to meet him early for a kids' clinic in Kentucky and come in uniform. What he didn't tell me was that we were flying there; and he was the pilot," Robinson laughed. "Somewhere over the trees he said, 'Look down and see if you can find Highway 57,' and I thought, this man really thinks we're in a Volkswagen with wings."
Dan Hartleb, head baseball coach at the University of Illinois and one of Jones' former players and assistants, delivered a tribute from the perspective of a student who later followed in his mentor's footsteps. "Thirty-nine years ago, I had the honor and privilege to step on this field as a player," Hartleb said. "From that day forward, my life changed. I was paired with one of the greatest coaches in college baseball history."
Hartleb described Jones' influence that stretched far beyond wins and championships. "Itch was a teacher, clinician, entertainer, and champion," he said. "He touched thousands of coaches across the country, and his teachings are still shaping the game today. But more than anything, Itch was a man of faith and family. His passion to make people better—on and off the field—will last for generations."
Longtime friend and former teammate Bob Hardcastle reflected on his early years playing alongside Jones at SIU in the late 1950s. "Back then, Itch was the same man you all remember. He was a fierce competitor, loyal teammate, and friend to everyone who crossed his path," Hardcastle said. "Even as his career took him to the top of college baseball, he never forgot where he came from. Southern Illinois was always home." Hardcastle added that Jones' leadership was evident even as a young player. "He had this natural ability to make everyone around him better. We didn't just play for him, we played because of him," he said.
At the close of the ceremony, Reis announced that fundraising efforts are now underway to construct a life-sized bronze statue of Itchy Jones at the stadium that bears his name. The project will be led by Illinois coach Dan Hartleb and crafted by the same artist responsible for the Red Grange, Dick Butkus, and Jim Thorpe statues in Champaign. The statue will honor both Itchy and his late wife, Sue, whose support and partnership defined much of his career.
"Itch and his family wanted this to be his final resting place," Reis told the crowd. "That's why this statue will stand here, at home, where his name, his family, and his players will always belong." The ceremony concluded with an open invitation for those in attendance to share their memories.
"Itchy" Jones was more than a coach for everyone who knew him—he was a close friend, family man, and will forever hold an indelible mark in Saluki history.