After 19 years, Leslie Caito-Jones is stepping down as Head Coach of the Moses Brown Girls' Field Hockey program. “When I started with the program in 1999,” Caito-Jones says, “I dreamed of a field hockey program that was so much more than playing competitive field hockey. I wanted a place where girls learned the value of teamwork, camaraderie, and physical activity — a safe space where they could learn and grow. I also wanted it to be like a second family where everyone — kids, parents, and more — could come together to have fun.”
As a coach, Jones forms long-standing friendships with the young women who play for her. “The remarkably well-rounded and enjoyable nature of Moses Brown student-athletes is one the reasons I’ve always enjoyed coaching at MB,” Jones says. Her enthusiasm, positive reinforcement, intensity, and open dialogue with her players made her a highly effective coach.
In a family of natural athletes, Jones began playing field hockey at age four. She enjoyed an impressive four-year career as a center-back for the University of Rhode Island, captaining twice and earning two successive regional All-American and First-Team All-Conference awards. Jones is a firm believer in the role of athletics in the student experience and affirms that being a part of a team “is one of the most enriching experiences anyone could ever have.”
When Jones first came onboard, she made the tough decision to move back to Division II and rebuild MB’s field hockey program, ultimately taking the program from Division II to a statewide powerhouse, following their 2009 DII championship run.
Jones says the decision to retire from coaching was not an easy one, but that she feels it’s time for her to be a field hockey parent and join other parents in cheering on the team from the stands.
In her years at MB, Jones holds an overall 204-89-22 record. After moving to Division 1 in 2009, the team holds a 128-22-15 records with:
9 State Championship Appearances
6 State Titles
7 Division Titles
4 Undefeated Seasons
16 + Collegiate Players