For Daryl “DJ” Jones, DM (MGT ’18), access to opportunity has always mattered. Raised in a middle-class family, the Battle Creek, Michigan, native understood how financial and emotional support can shape a student’s educational path.
That perspective inspired his $1 million commitment to Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management to establish The Athletic and Entrepreneurial Excellence Fund, which will help remove barriers for graduate students pursuing their Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). The fund’s focus will be on students who have an interest in athletic or sports-focused industries or entrepreneurship.
“DJ walked away from a dream job at Nike to finish something he promised himself as a teenager. That is true leadership,” said Weatherhead Dean Andrew Medvedev (CWR ’97). “The fact that his entire consulting practice grew directly out of his Weatherhead research tells you everything about the power of rigorous doctoral education—and this gift ensures the next DJ Jones gets the same chance to find out.”
A standout athlete growing up, Jones credits a high school psychology teacher who had his doctorate with inspiring his academic ambition.
“I remember thinking, no matter what happens, getting a doctorate is a goal of mine,” Jones said.
After earning his undergraduate degree, Jones went to work for Nike during a period of rapid growth in its golf division. A dream job for most, he instead set to work on earning his MBA, much to the disbelief of many of his colleagues.
“Don’t get me wrong—I’m extremely proud of everything we accomplished at Nike,” said Jones. ”But I never saw myself as a lifelong ‘Nike guy.’ I never settled for that as my ultimate career goal.”
After two decades with the global brand, where he held key executive roles in global commerce, consumer marketing, marketplace development and corporate culture, Jones left Nike to pursue the doctorate he had envisioned as a teenager.
“In the end, I chose Case Western Reserve because of the rigor, the quality of students I interacted with, the professors, and, of course, Sue Nartker,” said Jones, referring to the director of the DBA program (formerly the Doctor of Management program, which Jones completed). “I quickly picked up on the fact that if you applied yourself, there was a support system there that wanted to see you be successful.”
Initially planning to focus on small businesses, Jones reoriented his research after encouragement from classmates to lean into his athletic background. That shift became foundational to his professional work.
After earning his doctorate in 2018, Jones founded a consulting firm focused on transforming organizational culture through values-based leadership.
“The whole premise of my athletic and organizational crisis consulting practice was based on my research and findings at Weatherhead,” he said. “The entire premise.”
Jones now serves as executive in residence at the Center for Sports Leadership and Learning at Abilene Christian University.
“I've been fortunate enough where I can give back now—it makes me a little emotional to be honest with you,” said Jones. “I have people who believed in me along the way—my mom, my grandmother, my teachers and coaches—they’re the reason I’m here today.”
Through the Athletic and Entrepreneurial Excellence Fund, Jones hopes to extend that same support to the next generation of students—particularly those who may see themselves as underdogs, but whose potential is anything but.
