Staying true to a personal promise
Alumnus DJ Jones honors the support he received at Weatherhead School
For Daryl “DJ” Jones, DM (MGT ’18), access to opportunity has always mattered. Raised in a middle-class family, Jones understood how financial and emotional support can shape a student’s educational path.
That perspective inspired his $1 million commitment to Weatherhead School of Management to establish The Athletic and Entrepreneurial Excellence Fund to help remove barriers for students pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration degree. The fund will focus on students who have an interest in athletic or sports-focused industries or entrepreneurship.
Jones was a standout athlete growing up, and credits a high school psychology teacher with a doctorate degree for inspiring his academic ambition. “I remember thinking, no matter what happens, getting a doctorate is a goal of mine,” he said.
Jones joined Nike right out of college during a period of rapid growth in its golf division. At the same time, he set to work on earning his MBA.
Then, after two decades with the global brand, where he held several key executive roles, Jones left Nike to pursue that doctorate.
Initially planning to focus his research on small businesses, Jones changed gears after classmates encouraged him to lean into his athletic background.
That shift was foundational to his professional work. After earning his doctorate, 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.
“DJ walked away from a dream job at Nike to finish something he promised himself as a teenager. That is true leadership,” said Dean Andrew Medvedev (CWR ’97), also the Albert J. Weatherhead III Professor of Management. “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.”
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,” Jones said. “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 new 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.
