SE: Julian Jones Ready to Help Develop K-State Student-Athletes ‘Holistically’
Oct 07, 2019 | Sports Extra, Athletics, Evans Student-Athlete Success Program
By Corbin McGuire
Julian Jones knew he wanted to help people develop before he knew what that meant.
Jones, recently hired as K-State Athletics' Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development, said it started when he was a basketball manager at Youngstown State in 2011. He became close friends with many players on the team, but he said those friendships went beyond the norm.
"I was able to kind of mentor some of the student-athletes there that I worked with," he said.
In one example Jones recalled, a player said he wanted to be like Jones: Involved and successful on campus. Jones helped found the Youngstown State's NAACP collegiate chapter, sat on the student conduct board and served as president of the student diversity council. He also was a presidential mentor and worked as the team's player development intern and academic counselor.
Jones said this player, however, was missing a critical component to following his path.
"He wasn't going to class. So, I was, like, 'That's not right. How do you want to be like me if you're not going to class or doing the things I do? That's not really saying you want to be like me if you're not doing what I'm doing,'" Jones said, whose message was received well. "They were friends, but also looked up to me."
Jones, who spent two years at Clemson as a graduate assistant/assistant director of student-athlete development, said he looks to have the same type of impact at K-State. Only now, he's doing it from an experienced lens.
At Clemson, he guided many student-athletes to resources and internships. He also facilitated several development programs, such as an annual professional fashion show at Clemson, which helped a lot of student-athletes purchase their first suit. Additionally, he helped create Clemson's diversity and inclusion program.
"I think it's really about developing them, holistically, and making sure it's intentional when we do it, making sure we aren't just doing things because I think it's good for them but actually asking them, 'What do you want?' I think it's really to develop them to be the best humans they can be when they leave here and prepare them for life after college and sport," he said. "Also, while they're here at K-State, it's about making sure their student-athlete experience is the best experience they can have."
Jones' work with YSU's basketball team set the foundation for his career calling. He connected that passion with student-athlete development at his next stop, a post-graduate internship with the NCAA's Office of Inclusion.
"It's 100 percent why I am where I am now," Jones said of the NCAA internship. "Developing people is what I love to do, and I realized that's what I have a passion for. That (internship) is what got me into it, when I realized it existed."
Specifically, Jones volunteered in the leadership development department. It included an opportunity to go to the NCAA's Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. There, he formed crucial connections in the student-athlete development field, including with Cori Pinkett, who served in his current role at K-State from 2013-17.
Jones' NCAA internship also opened the door to a graduate assistant position at Clemson, which turned into a full-time job less than six months into it.
"It was an amazing experience," Jones said of his time at Clemson, where he graduated with a master's degree in Youth Development Leadership. "We had a lot of staff, so it was easy to learn a lot and gain from them. It was really about building Clemson student-athlete development to be a lot better. I was able to see how our supervisor was doing that, so I was able to learn and take nuggets from her to which I have to implement here."
At K-State, Jones said he plans to funnel all of his experiences to "rebrand" its student-athlete development program and, ultimately, make it stronger. He said it's helped having widespread support from the moment he arrived. Graduate assistant, Kennedy Felice, a former rower for K-State, has been a very valuable asset as well.
"I'm super excited. She's been great. It's good to have a former student-athlete who's been involved in student-athlete development so much to just give that perspective, that feedback. She's really good at reaching out and hitting some of the student-athletes, especially since she's already been here," he said. "It's been really good to hear her fresh ideas."
Together, Jones said he and Felice will focus on enhancing K-State's program through five pillars: Professional development, leadership development, personal development, diversity and inclusion, and community service.
"Our new student-athlete development program is dedicated to the holistic development and welfare of current and former student-athletes at K-State," he said. "Our mission is to equip student-athletes for success in every aspect of their lives through intentional, holistic programming."
Julian Jones knew he wanted to help people develop before he knew what that meant.
Jones, recently hired as K-State Athletics' Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development, said it started when he was a basketball manager at Youngstown State in 2011. He became close friends with many players on the team, but he said those friendships went beyond the norm.
"I was able to kind of mentor some of the student-athletes there that I worked with," he said.
In one example Jones recalled, a player said he wanted to be like Jones: Involved and successful on campus. Jones helped found the Youngstown State's NAACP collegiate chapter, sat on the student conduct board and served as president of the student diversity council. He also was a presidential mentor and worked as the team's player development intern and academic counselor.
Jones said this player, however, was missing a critical component to following his path.
"He wasn't going to class. So, I was, like, 'That's not right. How do you want to be like me if you're not going to class or doing the things I do? That's not really saying you want to be like me if you're not doing what I'm doing,'" Jones said, whose message was received well. "They were friends, but also looked up to me."
Jones, who spent two years at Clemson as a graduate assistant/assistant director of student-athlete development, said he looks to have the same type of impact at K-State. Only now, he's doing it from an experienced lens.
At Clemson, he guided many student-athletes to resources and internships. He also facilitated several development programs, such as an annual professional fashion show at Clemson, which helped a lot of student-athletes purchase their first suit. Additionally, he helped create Clemson's diversity and inclusion program.
"I think it's really about developing them, holistically, and making sure it's intentional when we do it, making sure we aren't just doing things because I think it's good for them but actually asking them, 'What do you want?' I think it's really to develop them to be the best humans they can be when they leave here and prepare them for life after college and sport," he said. "Also, while they're here at K-State, it's about making sure their student-athlete experience is the best experience they can have."
Jones' work with YSU's basketball team set the foundation for his career calling. He connected that passion with student-athlete development at his next stop, a post-graduate internship with the NCAA's Office of Inclusion.
"It's 100 percent why I am where I am now," Jones said of the NCAA internship. "Developing people is what I love to do, and I realized that's what I have a passion for. That (internship) is what got me into it, when I realized it existed."
Specifically, Jones volunteered in the leadership development department. It included an opportunity to go to the NCAA's Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. There, he formed crucial connections in the student-athlete development field, including with Cori Pinkett, who served in his current role at K-State from 2013-17.
Jones' NCAA internship also opened the door to a graduate assistant position at Clemson, which turned into a full-time job less than six months into it.
"It was an amazing experience," Jones said of his time at Clemson, where he graduated with a master's degree in Youth Development Leadership. "We had a lot of staff, so it was easy to learn a lot and gain from them. It was really about building Clemson student-athlete development to be a lot better. I was able to see how our supervisor was doing that, so I was able to learn and take nuggets from her to which I have to implement here."
At K-State, Jones said he plans to funnel all of his experiences to "rebrand" its student-athlete development program and, ultimately, make it stronger. He said it's helped having widespread support from the moment he arrived. Graduate assistant, Kennedy Felice, a former rower for K-State, has been a very valuable asset as well.
"I'm super excited. She's been great. It's good to have a former student-athlete who's been involved in student-athlete development so much to just give that perspective, that feedback. She's really good at reaching out and hitting some of the student-athletes, especially since she's already been here," he said. "It's been really good to hear her fresh ideas."
Together, Jones said he and Felice will focus on enhancing K-State's program through five pillars: Professional development, leadership development, personal development, diversity and inclusion, and community service.
"Our new student-athlete development program is dedicated to the holistic development and welfare of current and former student-athletes at K-State," he said. "Our mission is to equip student-athletes for success in every aspect of their lives through intentional, holistic programming."
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