FAYETTE, Iowa - Upper Iowa head women's basketball coach Justin Maass has announced the addition of Sophia Jonas as a graduate assistant to the staff. Jonas joins the team following a four-year playing career at the College of Saint Benedict.
"Sophia will bring great energy, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic to our program," Maass said. "She understands what it takes to succeed as a college athlete and will be able to relate well to our players both on and off the court. Her passion for coaching and helping others will make a positive impact on our team culture. We believe she fits our program extremely well and will be a great addition to our staff and the development of our student athletes."
Jonas played in 103 games with 92 starts in her four-year career with the Bennies. She earned All-MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) accolades three times for the women's basketball squad. She was also the first five-time CSC Academic All-District® selection for the school, winning the award three times in basketball and twice in tennis.
During her playing career, Jonas broke the MIAC and Saint Benedict career record for 3-pointers with 264. She also broke both records for 3-pointers in a season with 84 in 2022-23. The native of Hudson, Wisconsin, totaled 1,154 points during her career, finishing as the 12th-highest scorer in Saint Benedict history.
Jonas aims to bring her expertise to a Peacock team that had the top two 3-point scorers in the GLVC last season.
"In my role as a graduate assistant, I hope to bring positive energy, consistency and a willingness to do whatever is needed to support the team," Jonas said. "I want to be someone the coaches and players can rely on, no matter the task."
She majored in accounting during her undergraduate studies and was the College of Saint Benedict Presidential Award winner. That award is given to a Bennie athlete for excelling in the classroom, in competition and as an inspirational leader in the greater community.
Jonas was also a key member of Saint Benedict's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) where she served as co-president. She helped spearhead efforts to prioritize mental health initiatives on campus while also helping stock local food shelves and participate in other SAAC events.
"Sophia stood out immediately because of the energy and passion she brought to the interview process," Maass said. "She did a great job sharing her experiences as a student-athlete and explaining how those experiences would help her connect with and mentor our players. You could tell that she has a genuine passion for coaching and a strong desire to help others grow. On top of that, her success as a player at Saint Benedict, where she was an all-conference player and set program records, gives her valuable perspective and credibility with our athletes."
As she begins the next chapter of her career, Jonas is excited about continuing to grow as a part of the Peacock program.
"What excites me most is the opportunity to be part of a program that is built on teaching, development and communication," Jonas said. "I'm excited to learn as much as I can from the coaching staff, build relationships with the athletes and contribute to a positive culture."
