A camera crew films Melissa Jones at work with special needs students.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Tinkers to Evers to Chance; ham and Swiss on rye – a couple of great combinations. Now you can add Haynes, Shimmin and Mann to that list.

Online Photo Gallery

Five years ago, Monmouth College coaches Roger Haynes (track), Kari Shimmin (volleyball) and Dennis Mann (women’s basketball) teamed up to recruit Melissa Jones of Port Byron, Ill. (East Moline), but none could have predicted the multi-sport athlete would reach the level of national recognition she has attained as a Top 10 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

The award recognizes women in intercollegiate athletics from Divisions I, II and III for their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and community service. Of the finalists, only three are from Division III. Jones is the only multi-sport athlete to be named a finalist.

The award comes as no surprise to Mann, who said Jones embodies what a student-athlete should be - “a tremendous role model and a great example of what Division III athletics is all about – not just athletics, but athletics and academics.”

It has been quite a journey for the 2003 cum laude graduate. Jones has been the focus of numerous local TV sports reports and now will have to face the national media cameras as the Nov. 1 awards banquet in Indianapolis will be taped and is tentatively set to air on ESPN2 on Dec. 5 at 3:30 CST.

“It’s kind of embarrassing,” said Jones, when asked about the media coverage. “The NCAA sent a film crew to follow me around one afternoon while I taught and coached.”

Jones should be used to the attention. Her athletic achievements include sweeping both the indoor and outdoor Midwest Conference high jump titles – the only woman in Monmouth College history to accomplish a clean sweep in any event – four track All-American honors and several basketball records. A member of the 1,000-point club, she is the third-leading scorer in women’s history and the sixth overall at Monmouth. She also set the school record for points in a game (37) and was faced with the task of guarding larger players in the post.

“I’m amazed by how good she was in the paint,” said Mann. “She would get physically tired late in the game, but always was able to call on her mental toughness to finish.”

Track coach Roger Haynes agreed, saying “Melissa was always at her best when she needed to be, regardless of the situation. That was especially the case when she hurt her knee during the basketball season, just before the conference meet.”

Jones not only finished the basketball season on a bad knee, she then went on to win her fourth straight Midwest Conference indoor high jump championship.

While Jones contributions on the playing field are well-documented, volleyball coach Kari Shimmin offered an insight into what makes the multi-sport star special.

“Melissa was a great team leader. She would often take it on herself to put together travel packs of treats for the girls on our road games. She’s not the rah-rah type of leader, but is very analytical. When she has something to say, the other players listen.”

After accomplishing all this, has Jones reached the apex of her career? The coaches don’t think so.

“She’s having a huge impact on the young people she comes in contact with,” said Mann. “They can see first-hand what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.”

Haynes agreed. “I think her best contributions are yet to come as she gets into the classroom and begins teaching and coaching.”