For two and a half decades, Gregg Jones has been closely associated with Rondout Valley school athletics. But it was because of his accomplishments in Saugerties that Jones is being inducted into the Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame Club Class of 2019 next month.
Gregg Jones has lived most of his life in Saugerties, attending Mt. Marion Elementary. Jones was in Little League baseball, youth soccer, basketball and bowling. He graduated Saugerties High as a member of the Class of 1985.
Jones was a two-sport athlete at Saugerties High, playing both football and baseball. He was a member of the Sawyer varsity baseball program’s state championship squad as senior. Earlier that year he won the school’s Michael Bond Award for excellence on the gridiron. In 1984, Jones won the Saugerties Athletic Association’s (SAA) Ronald Lareau MVP award.
Later, he played in various softball leagues in Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Catskill, and for over 30 years in the SAA. He counts among his greatest sports memories bowling his first-ever 300 game — he’s since amassed eleven — and an 857 series.
Jones attended Cortlandt State University, from which he graduated in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree. He’s taught physical education in Rondout Valley for the past 24 years. He has coached baseball, and is the current coach of Rondout Valley High School’s varsity football team. In 2000, when that team became the first-ever Section IX program to win the New York State championship Jones was the offensive coordinator.
He’s also coached football in Saugerties, running the modified program in 1986 and 1987 and returning as varsity coach in 1993 and 1994.
Jones credited Saugerties coaches Larry Nevil, Hank Smith and Tony Vizzie with helping inspire him and show him early on what coaching was all about. “I feel very fortunate to have had three coaches and teachers who were as dedicated and disciplined as they were,” said Jones. “They were always prepared, and sportsmanship was of the utmost importance.”
Jones also singled out Dennis Sheehan, a 2008 Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame inductee. “Coach Sheehan taught me about passion and pride,” said Jones. “He coached every practice and game with great desire and emotion. He motivated his athletes to take pride in their effort.”
Jones joins Robert Dodig, Jr., John Gambino, George Beisel and John Parker in the Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame Club’s 2019 class. The induction banquet is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 13 at Diamond Mills in Saugerties. Tickets are $30 and can be secured by contacting Mike Hasenbalg at mikehasenbalg@yahoo.com or 914-388-2348. l
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