Rick Jones remembered for bringing the best of times to Tulane

He’s competed for all of his 66 years plus, and he’s doing the same in retirement in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Rick Jones is fighting a heart issue but the former Tulane baseball coach is determined that the doctor’s prognosis is right on.

Nothing that rest and some quality meds can’t conquer.

Jones will return to New Orleans in early May to have his number 10 retired by Tulane. In the history of the school’s athletic department, the line of significance begins behind him.

Jones won 818 games from 1994 until his retirement in the 2014 season.

He did something unheard of in a major sport at Tulane University. His Green Wave was preseason ranked number one in the country in 2005. He led Tulane baseball to the College World Series twice.

On the first trip to Omaha, he provided Tulane with a surreal moment.There he was on the field at Rosenblatt Stadium, shaking hands with President George W. Bush.

Days earlier, his Green Wave had done what many thought impossible.

For a season, Tulane had supplanted LSU as the best college baseball team in Louisiana. The Green Wave won the last two games of a three game Super Regional over LSU at Zephyr Field.

His team was flat out better than the Tigers. Even the thousands of LSU fans who packed Zephyr Field for three tense and hot days would agree.

For a moment, the Shrine on Airline was olive, green, and blue heaven.

In 2005, the Green Wave won a home Super Regional with Rice and advanced to Omaha for the second time in five seasons.

Jones had other offers.  He was close to bolting to Georgia, and to Oklahoma.

He stayed.

Tulane’s last regional under Jones was in 2008. The fact that he couldn’t bring the Wave back to national prominence and that his financial aid options were decreased led to stress, which led to his departure.

Since, he’s defeated prostate cancer and pre-cancer of the esophagus.

So, a little issue with the ticker doesn’t seem to be anything that insurmountable.

When he left, a reporter who had covered Jones’ teams from the beginning told him his resume’ would  look even better over the scope of time.

That it has.

Rick Jones did something at Tulane that is rare. That is sustained success.

Baseball was the alpha athletic dog on campus. Two trips to Omaha and being named National Coach of the Year in 2005 left no doubt.

When Jones returns, he should be greeted like Tulane royalty, which he is.