Hall of Fame

Dianne Jones

Dr. Dianne Jones

  • Class
  • Induction
    2022
  • Sport(s)
    UW-Whitewater
Induction Video

(Written: July 2022)

Dr. Dianne Jones served as UW-Whitewater’s women’s athletic director from 1986-99, and women’s basketball coach from 1976-77 and 1980-90. As athletic director, Jones developed numerous programs and initiatives that still exist, including All-American Recognition Day, Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award and the Athletic Handbook.

On the basketball sidelines, she compiled a record of 229-103 with three conference championships (1980, 1981, 1986) and guided the Warhawks to eight national tournament appearances. In 1982, the Warhawks finished in third place at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Division III Championship. Jones was a two-time conference Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year. She coached 12 All-Americans.

She served as an instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor at UW-Whitewater during her entire tenure. Jones was a member of numerous conference, state, regional and national committees.

In 1995, Jones received the Women’s Sports Advocates of Wisconsin Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports Pathfinder Award. She received Distinguished Alumni Awards from Lancaster (Ohio) High School and Eastern Kentucky University.

Jones was inducted into the UW-Whitewater Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2004, she was the first collegiate women’s coach to be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and school health from Eastern Kentucky University, a master’s degree in physical education (socio-cultural aspects of sport) from Western Illinois University, and doctor of education in physical education from West Virginia University.

Jones resides in Twin Lakes, Wis., during the summer and Fort Myers, Fla., during the winter.