Mike Jones will be beginning his 23rd season at the helm of the Cougar baseball team in the fall and has led the team to two Region IX runner-ups in the last three years. In 2017, the team won the Empire conference, hosted the regional tournament, and finished second at the regional tournament. In 2019, the team was within an out of capturing the Region IX title before falling in the first title game and then the if-necessary game.

But, while the team was close in a couple years, the Cougars have two Region IX titles under their belt. In 2007, the Cougar team recorded its first Region IX championship by defeating Trinidad State twice for the title, and Jones also earned Region IX Coach of the Year honors.

In the 2020-21 season, the Cougars won the regional title with a strong comeback in April and the end of May to finish the year at 26-29.

In 2009, The Cougars finished second in the Empire Conference before falling in the first-round Region IX Playoffs. In 2010 then, the Cougars finished second in the Empire Conference, won their first round regional playoff series games, and finished runner-up for the regional title. Still, the team played in the District Playoffs where they fell to No. ranked Southern Nevada and No. 1 Major League draft pick Bryce Harper 9-8 (they almost upset the team).

Jones has made the Cougars a Region IX power after taking command of the baseball team in 2001-02. Jones is the only baseball coach WNCC has had. In his 22 years at WNCC, he has a 459-637 record. Before coming to WNCC, he spent the previous three years at Dodge City Community College. At Dodge City, he had a 94-71 record. His overall junior college record stands at 553-708. He also served as an assistant baseball coach at Dodge City from 1995-96.

As a native of Overland Park, Kan., Jones began his playing career at Avila College in Kansas City. Following two seasons at Avila, he transferred to Emporia State University, where he helped lead the team to its first MIAA championship as a starting pitcher in 1993. His coaching career started in 1994 at Emporia State as an assistant coach.

Jones has been active with the American Legion in both Dodge City and Gering. He was also a coach of the 1998 American Legion tournament champions in Kansas, a member of the 1993 MIAA championship team at Emporia State and participated in the NCAA Division II national tournament. Jones also served as an assistant coach of the Western Nebraska Pioneers in 2016 and 2017, the summer collegiate baseball league in Gering.

Jones is married to Jude, and they have three children, Jack, Alex, and Luke.