The moment Julian Jones began working as an NCAA postgraduate intern in the office of inclusion, he felt something shift within him. The hum of collaboration, the energy of young student-athletes hungry to find their voices and the weight of responsibility to foster change — it was more than a job.
In those early days, standing at the crossroads of passion and purpose, Jones gained clarity as he stood before rooms of student-athletes, guiding them through workshops and programs. Each conversation, each breakthrough moment reinforced his belief that leadership was about impact and transformation.
Nearly a decade later, as a senior associate athletics director at Western Michigan, Jones consistently champions NCAA leadership development programs, inspires future leaders and shapes lives while building his legacy of excellence.
'Laid the foundation'
Jones credits his success as a transformational leader to participating in several NCAA leadership development programs: the Effective Facilitation Workshop, the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute and the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
"It laid the foundation," Jones said. "I think for me, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do in sports. So having an opportunity to work in the office of inclusion and volunteer with the leadership development programming helped me narrow down what I wanted to do. … I was blessed in that way, and it's truly because of what I could learn from the NCAA programming that helped me professionally."
While Jones' career took off quickly, with impactful roles at Clemson and Kansas State, his dedication and attention to detail propelled him forward. Every decision he made and initiative he launched carried the imprint of his core belief — that leadership is about leaving things better than you found them.
At Western Michigan, that philosophy has deepened. There, he has seen firsthand how the smallest details can create the biggest impact, and he has become relentless in the holistic development of student-athletes while strengthening community partnerships and empowering athletics department staff.
Lessons learned
Jones credited NCAA initiatives like the Leadership Institute with shaping his career. After absorbing the information, he paid it forward. He believes in the power of mentorship, the necessity of guidance and the unwavering responsibility of leaders to nurture those who follow.
Some of the lessons learned from Jones' involvement with leadership development included the importance of setting standards — not just for professional growth but also for personal fulfillment — and having a nonnegotiable list when considering job opportunities.
"This is my first sport administrator role here at Western Michigan," Jones said. "I don't think I would have been a good sports administrator the way that I am now without the programming that was offered during the Leadership Institute because of the numerous scenarios that came up. … I believe it's so important if people want to be successful in sports, to take part in leadership development programming."
For Jones, success is not just where he stands today — it's the ripple effect of every student-athlete he has ever inspired.
