Hall of Fame
Paula Jones, who received degrees from Northern Illinois State University (Bachelors), and Indiana University (Masters), is among the top high school volleyball coaches in the state with a career that spanned 30 years. From 1965-1995, Jones built Minisink Valley High School to become the top volleyball program annually in Section IX compiling over 600 career wins without ever having a team at any level finish below .500. Also a softball coach, she hit her stride in volleyball leading her teams to numerous American League, Orange County League and Section IX Volleyball Championships, and was the NYSPHSAA State Championship Runner-Up in 1993. She was honored as The Times Herald Record Coach of the Year and Orange County Coach of the Year multiple times. Jones elevated the level of volleyball in Orange County through working with coaches and athletes from the region, evidenced by establishing the Orange County Volleyball Club in 1990 and conducting various coaches clinics over the years. Off the court, Jones was also instrumental in establishing equal play for girls in the region under Title IX. Her attention to equality in girls sports also allowed Minisink Valley to become the first school in Orange County to pay girls and boys coaches equally as well. The founder of the Girls’ Athletic Association (GAA) at Minisink Valley, Jones additionally served a long tenure as Section IX Volleyball Chairperson.