WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross Director of Athletics Kit Hughes has announced the appointment of Kristy Jones as head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs. She previously spent the last six years as the head coach of the swimming and diving teams at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. 

"Kristy Jones is the ideal candidate to help lead Crusader Swimming and Diving to new heights," Hughes said. "Her significant experience as a head coach, former student-athlete and former NCAA and Olympic Trials qualifier have her well positioned to help lead and mentor our student-athletes, and I am thrilled to welcome Kristy and her husband David to the Holy Cross community." 

Under Jones' leadership, Babson saw considerable success in both the pool and in the classroom, with her swimmers and divers breaking 43 total school records and earning numerous Scholar All-America accolades each semester. Jones was instrumental in recruitment efforts for both the Beavers' men's and women's programs, expanding the teams' roster from 20 student-athletes to 53, with athletes hailing from 15 different states and eight different countries.

Jones guided the men's team at Babson to its most dual-meet wins since 2002 (10) in 2017-18 and 2019-20, while placing fourth at the NEWMAC Championships in 2018-19. Coaching the women, Jones set the program record in dual-meet wins (10) in 2019-20 while recording a program-best 343.5 points at the NEWMAC Championship. Outside of the pool, Jones managed the Athletic Tutoring Program by interviewing, hiring and managing 25 students to peer tutor Babson student-athletes.

"I'm honored to serve as the next head swimming and diving coach at the College of the Holy Cross, an institution with a long tradition of academic and athletic excellence," Jones said. "The student-athlete experience is important to me, and I look forward to continuing to support, develop and advance the men's and women's swimming and diving program. I would like to thank Kit Hughes and the Holy Cross community for this amazing opportunity."

Before Babson, Jones spent two years as an assistant coach at WPI from 2014-16, and was responsible for day-to-day training sessions and strength and conditioning workouts while assisting with fundraising and recruiting efforts for teams that set 47 school records. Prior to WPI, Jones was a six-year assistant at Brown from 2007-13, and led the planning and execution of workouts, fundraising and recruitment efforts, and also was involved in the institution's faculty liaison program and the team's mentoring initiative. 

Currently a Worcester resident, Jones was a standout four-year member of the swimming & diving squad at Indiana. A team captain for the Hoosiers during her senior season, Jones qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 200 and 400-yard individual medley in 2002 and 2003. She earned honorable mention All-America accolades in 2002 and was an Olympic Trials qualifier.

ABOUT HOLY CROSS: 
The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts — the second-largest city in New England  — is among the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,100 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition, and is one of only 85 colleges in America that meets 100% of students' demonstrated financial need. Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society since its founding in 1843 by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.