Our Story
ISG Baseball, formerly International Sports Group, is a non-profit organization (details below) founded in 1985 by internationally renowned baseball coach Bill Arce. Bill’s passion to assist in the development and growth of youth baseball internationally led to the birth of ISG.
This dedication to the development of youth baseball internationally initially consisted of two programs: the first, organizing youth and college age teams to provide quality competition and player clinics in various European countries, and the second – in recognition that baseball would improve only when coaching improved – addressing the need for increasing the numbers and continuing the education of coaches of all levels. ISG confronted that challenge by conducting preseason instructional clinics in response to requests by many baseball and softball federations in Europe.
In the past decade, the off-season instructional clinics have become the main focus of ISG and have created a rich resume of exposing European coaches to some of the finest American college and professional coaches. Over the years the speakers have covered a wide variety of topics ranging from individual and team techniques to the psychological and biomechanical aspects of the game. Today’s speakers keep the European coaches up to date with the latest "cutting edge" teaching methods in the ever-evolving games of baseball and softball.
Internationally, baseball has grown rapidly. ISG Baseball’s mission is to aid individual clubs and federations in their rapid growth and development - assisting them with their coaching education programs by improving their lines of communication with baseball and softball experts.
The scope of ISG’s programs -- dedicated to reaching these goals -- is dependent upon corporate sponsorships and individual contributions. The current level of financial support has recently supported ten to twelve winter coaching clinics as well as a few in-season programs. None of ISG’s personnel are salaried. Continued support of our sponsors assists in ISG's commitment to the continued improvement of international baseball coaching.
International Sports Group, Inc. Tax ID # Federal - 33-02409050, California State # D-1589363
This dedication to the development of youth baseball internationally initially consisted of two programs: the first, organizing youth and college age teams to provide quality competition and player clinics in various European countries, and the second – in recognition that baseball would improve only when coaching improved – addressing the need for increasing the numbers and continuing the education of coaches of all levels. ISG confronted that challenge by conducting preseason instructional clinics in response to requests by many baseball and softball federations in Europe.
In the past decade, the off-season instructional clinics have become the main focus of ISG and have created a rich resume of exposing European coaches to some of the finest American college and professional coaches. Over the years the speakers have covered a wide variety of topics ranging from individual and team techniques to the psychological and biomechanical aspects of the game. Today’s speakers keep the European coaches up to date with the latest "cutting edge" teaching methods in the ever-evolving games of baseball and softball.
Internationally, baseball has grown rapidly. ISG Baseball’s mission is to aid individual clubs and federations in their rapid growth and development - assisting them with their coaching education programs by improving their lines of communication with baseball and softball experts.
The scope of ISG’s programs -- dedicated to reaching these goals -- is dependent upon corporate sponsorships and individual contributions. The current level of financial support has recently supported ten to twelve winter coaching clinics as well as a few in-season programs. None of ISG’s personnel are salaried. Continued support of our sponsors assists in ISG's commitment to the continued improvement of international baseball coaching.
International Sports Group, Inc. Tax ID # Federal - 33-02409050, California State # D-1589363
ISG Board Member Jones Has Long, Storied History in International Baseball
Jim Jones has over 50 years of baseball coaching experience at the youth, high school, college, semi-pro and international levels. He served as assistant coach at Stanford University before becoming head coach at the University of Wyoming and St. Mary’s College (CA). Since retiring and moving the Klamath Falls, OR, he has served as assistant coach for the Oregon Tech’s Golf (5 yrs.) and Baseball (2yrs.) teams. Jim is a Past- President of International Sports Group, Inc.
In 1991, Jim began his international experience by becoming coach in residence in Czechoslovakia as part of a joint IBA-MLBI program. Following that “Lone Ranger” assignment, he served with Bill Arce as MLBI’s Co-coordinator of Game Development in Europe. His duties there allowed him to over-see the selection and evaluation of Envoy Coaches assigned to various European federations as well as overseeing many of MLBI’s winter coaches’ clinics.
Jim was recently inducted into the Czech Baseball Hall of Fame for his work with Czech National and club teams. He presently is the only non-Czech in their hall of fame. He has been a member of the ABCA for 52 consecutive years.
When his MLB duties took him further away from the baseball field and into the administration offices, Jim decided he wanted to return to activities that allowed him to work directly with European coaches and players. That desire allowed him to take a new path in international baseball. Since that return to the field, he has worked with baseball federations in the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Holland, Croatia and Portugal. He has served as an instructor, manager and assistant coach at all levels from Cadets through the Senior level of play.
At the 2006 European Baseball Coaches Association's winter convention, Jim received EBCA's Achievement Award in recognition of his work in European Baseball since the early 1990's. He also has received MLB’s Julio Puente Award for his outstanding work as an MLB Envoy Coach
From 2005 to 2009, Coach Jones worked with the Spanish Baseball Federation working with coaches and players in clubs and camps - as well as serving as the pitching and catching coach from the Cadet, Junior and Senior National Teams. Following his work in Spain, Coach Jones worked 5 years with the French Baseball Academies in Toulouse, Rouen, Montpellier, Bretagne and Talence, helping them prepare for various up-coming international tournaments. During June 2010, while back in the USA, Jim served as head coach of the Armed Forces team, US9, during an exhibition tour in Western Wisconsin.
An additional international opportunity arose in 1998 when he joined with Bill Arce and International Sports Group to take over the administration of the winter baseball and softball clinics. The demand for coaching clinics remains high in Europe and ISG Baseball is committed to fulfilling that game development need with the help of outside sponsorship. Jim served as ISG’s president until he chose to step back on his administrative duties. He remains as an active board member of this important organization.
Jim has had the opportunity to work with players of all ages and coaches from many European countries, Canada and Curacao as well as staging baseball camps in New Zealand. These experiences combine with his USA coaching to give him a strong background to help game development programs in those federations desiring outside assistance.
Jim and his wife, Sally, have two grown sons, Don and Mickey and grandsons Kalliah Creek and Jeremiah.
In 1991, Jim began his international experience by becoming coach in residence in Czechoslovakia as part of a joint IBA-MLBI program. Following that “Lone Ranger” assignment, he served with Bill Arce as MLBI’s Co-coordinator of Game Development in Europe. His duties there allowed him to over-see the selection and evaluation of Envoy Coaches assigned to various European federations as well as overseeing many of MLBI’s winter coaches’ clinics.
Jim was recently inducted into the Czech Baseball Hall of Fame for his work with Czech National and club teams. He presently is the only non-Czech in their hall of fame. He has been a member of the ABCA for 52 consecutive years.
When his MLB duties took him further away from the baseball field and into the administration offices, Jim decided he wanted to return to activities that allowed him to work directly with European coaches and players. That desire allowed him to take a new path in international baseball. Since that return to the field, he has worked with baseball federations in the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Holland, Croatia and Portugal. He has served as an instructor, manager and assistant coach at all levels from Cadets through the Senior level of play.
At the 2006 European Baseball Coaches Association's winter convention, Jim received EBCA's Achievement Award in recognition of his work in European Baseball since the early 1990's. He also has received MLB’s Julio Puente Award for his outstanding work as an MLB Envoy Coach
From 2005 to 2009, Coach Jones worked with the Spanish Baseball Federation working with coaches and players in clubs and camps - as well as serving as the pitching and catching coach from the Cadet, Junior and Senior National Teams. Following his work in Spain, Coach Jones worked 5 years with the French Baseball Academies in Toulouse, Rouen, Montpellier, Bretagne and Talence, helping them prepare for various up-coming international tournaments. During June 2010, while back in the USA, Jim served as head coach of the Armed Forces team, US9, during an exhibition tour in Western Wisconsin.
An additional international opportunity arose in 1998 when he joined with Bill Arce and International Sports Group to take over the administration of the winter baseball and softball clinics. The demand for coaching clinics remains high in Europe and ISG Baseball is committed to fulfilling that game development need with the help of outside sponsorship. Jim served as ISG’s president until he chose to step back on his administrative duties. He remains as an active board member of this important organization.
Jim has had the opportunity to work with players of all ages and coaches from many European countries, Canada and Curacao as well as staging baseball camps in New Zealand. These experiences combine with his USA coaching to give him a strong background to help game development programs in those federations desiring outside assistance.
Jim and his wife, Sally, have two grown sons, Don and Mickey and grandsons Kalliah Creek and Jeremiah.
A bevy of the Czech Republics outstanding coaches gather to honor ISG's Jim Jones (bottom row, 4th from right) at a ceremony honoring his induction into the Czech Baseball Hall of Fame in Prague on 10 December 2021.