GUNNISON, Colo. Western Colorado Director of Athletics Miles Van Hee is pleased to announce on Tuesday afternoon the hiring of Sonia Morales-Jones as the head coach of the Mountaineer women’s volleyball program.
She officially begins her duties with today’s announcement.
“I am humbled and grateful to have been selected to lead the next era of Mountaineer volleyball,” said Morales-Jones. “I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to President Baca, Director Van Hee, and Deputy Director Hinze for believing in me and entrusting me to serve this community and empower young women through sport.
“The Western Colorado University and Gunnison communities called to me. It’s a special place and my family and I are appreciative to be a part of it.”
Morales-Jones spent nine seasons as the head women’s volleyball coach at Benedictine University Mesa (Ariz.) where she compiled a 166-88 record with teams that made three NAIA national tournaments (2020, 2022, 2023).
“We are placing the volleyball program into the hands of an experienced coach with proven success,” said Van Hee. “Sonia took the reins of a first-year program at Benedictine and built it into a perennial NAIA national tournament qualifier. She knows the challenges she’ll face in the very competitive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and expects to follow the same trajectory from her successful stint leading the Redhawks.”
Benedictine started winning right away with a 17-7 record under Morales-Jones in its inaugural season in 2015, and in her nine seasons leading the program the Redhawks posted seven winning records, four seasons with at least 20 wins, and a program record 29 wins in her final campaign in 2023.
During her tenure the program won a pair of California Pacific Conference regular season titles and one Cal Pac Conference tournament title.
In both the 2022 and 2023 seasons Benedictine registered 18-2 conference marks in Cal Pac action, with Morales-Jones earning coach of the year honors in 2022.
Eighteen Benedictine players under the guidance of Morales-Jones received All-Cal Pac honors, and 10 earned AVCA All-Region honors accumulating 15 total AVCA All-Region and four AVCA All-American selections.
Redhawk players also earned individual Cal Pac recognition, including five defenders of the year; two freshmen of the year; one setter of the year; one attacker of the year; and one player of the year.
In the classroom, 17 of Morales-Jones’ student-athletes were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes.
Prior to joining Benedictine, Morales-Jones was the head girls volleyball coach at Seton Catholic Prep (Ariz.) from 2012 to 2014, leading the Sentinels into the state tournament all three seasons – including advancing to the final four in 2012 and 2014 – while compiling an overall record of 77-29 and earning the DIII Section V Coach of the Year award in 2014.
Active in the club circles throughout her career, Morales-Jones most recently has been a leader for the Revolution Volleyball Academy in Phoenix, coaching the 15U-17U national teams during her three years with the academy.
Morales-Jones started her collegiate playing career at Chaminade (Hawaii) University before transferring to Grand Canyon (Ariz.) University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in fitness and wellness with a minor in health education.
She continued her education at Northern Arizona University where she earned a Master of Education degree in counseling and human relations and is pursuing a PhD in applied psychophysiology from Saybrook (Calif.) University.
Morales-Jones will be joined in Gunnison by husband Jason. The couple have two children, Jeremiah and Reyna, a West Point volleyball commit, and the family enjoys their two dogs, Josie and Sunshine.
