Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones (April 26, 1946 – July 5, 1986) was the head women's basketball coach for Purdue University from 1976 until her death in July 1986. She had the longest tenure as a Purdue women's basketball coach until Sharon Versyp, who surpassed her 10-year tenure in 2017. In 1986 Jones was selected as the Big Ten Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.

Coaching career Murray State Jones started her coaching career at her alma mater Murray State for the 1968–69 season. She finished that year with a 6–1 record. She was inducted into the Ashland's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 1986 she was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after Purdue posted its best-ever record of 16–11, with a 9–9 conference record tying for fifth place in the Big Ten. She coached until she died from ovarian cancer on July 5, 1986, following the 1985–86 season. She died at DePaul Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Marsha Reall was hired to replace her on July 15.

Legacy Sharon Versyp was coached by Jones, who died following Versyp's sophomore year. Versyp became the head coach for Purdue's women's basketball team in 2006, and in 2017 surpassed Jones for longest tenure as head coach for Purdue's women's basketball team.

Head coaching record Sourced from: Purdue History (Women's Basketball) 2002.