Greg Jones

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Washington & Jefferson College head men's and women's water polo coach Greg Jones crossed the finish line in 13:28:17 to place 978th of 2,157 finishers at the 2010 Ford Ironman Louisville on August 29th. 

He placed 107th in his age group (Men 25-29) as he swam 2.4 miles (1:01:17), biked another 112 miles (6:58:45) and finished off the day with a 26.2 marathon run (5:05:39) in the top 45.3 percent of the event's finishers to begin a season in which he will guide a varsity men's water polo team for the first time.

Hired in December 2009, Jones begins his first year as the head men's water polo coach at Washington & Jefferson following a Spring 2010 women's season in which he guided the Presidents to 10 victories, including a 7-6 mark in Collegiate Water Polo Association play as W&J placed fourth at the CWPA Division III Championship.

An experienced marathon runner, he trained almost a year for the Ford Ironmancompetition. His training regimen included four days per week of biking, three days of running, two for weight training and another two for swimming (that adds up to about 11 days a week).

The race marked the second endurance event Jones conquered in Kentucky. His long-term goal is to run marathons in all 50 states. So far, he’s scratched nine off the list.

His first was the “Flying Pig” marathon in Cincinnati (aptly named for the city’s historical propensity for pork products) in May 2005.

At that time, Jones was working on his undergraduate degree in exercise physiology at Ohio University and playing on the club water polo team there. Since it was a fall sport, he needed something to do in the spring when the physical pace was less intense. A buddy who ran marathons urged Jones to join him.

He also ran the “Pig” in 2008 and 2009. His list this year includes the "Goofy Challenge" at Disney World in January, which was a half marathon on Saturday and full marathon on Sunday held in the five parks in Florida. His latest escapade was the Ridge Runner Marathon in West Virginia in June.

No stranger to CWPA play, Jones graduated from Ohio in 2007 and obtained a master’s degree in coaching education from OU a year later.  Jones’ thesis was entitled The Disparities of Division I, II, and III Collegiate Varsity Water Polo teams throughout the United States of America where he surveyed all NCAA varsity coaches and analyzed reasons of their performances.

While at Ohio University, he was President of the OU Men’s Water Polo Club.  Jones was a three-time All-Conference choice and a 2006 National Collegiate Club Honorable-Mention All-America selection.

He was also instrumental in helping the women’s water polo club program as a student as the team’s head coach from 2004-2006.

Washington & Jefferson will open the marathon of the men's water polo season on September 10 at home against CWPA Southern Division, West Region foe Mercyhurst College at 7:30 p.m.