Temple University Athletics
Chris Jones Named Senior Associate AD/Assistant Vice President for Development
4.1.21 | General, Owl Club
PHILADELPHIA - Chris Jones, who has served as the Interim Senior Associate AD for Athletics Development since September 2020, has been named Senior Associate AD/Assistant Vice President for Development, announced Acting Director of Athletics Fran Dunphy. Â
"Chris has demonstrated over the last six months that he is more than ready to lead our athletics development team so we are pleased to remove the 'interim' from his title," said Dunphy. "Besides his work during his interim status, Chris has been a valuable member of our athletics development staff since his arrival in 2018. He also had been successful throughout his career which includes stops at three other universities."
"I would like to thank Vice President for Development Jim Cawley, Associate Vice President for Development Jeremy Wang, and Acting Director of Athletics Fran Dunphy for their faith in me to serve in this capacity," said Jones. "Truly it is an exciting time to be at Temple University and I am looking forward to continue engaging with some of the best alumni, donors and fans in college athletics as the team and I work tirelessly to move the philanthropic needle for our deserving student-athletes."
Jones joined the Temple staff as the Assistant AD for Major Gifts in October 2018. In his role, he devised development strategies and was responsible for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts of $50,000 and up and leadership annual gifts. Since his arrival, Jones has been a member of a team that has broken a fundraising record each year including a 58% increase in gifts of the top three annual levels $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000+. Jones also created and implemented a major gift strategy for the department that included opportunities for basketball locker naming opportunities and strength and nutrition stations for all sports.Â
Prior to joining Temple Athletics, Jones served two years (2016-18) as Director of Development for Athletics at Clarion University where he oversaw all athletics fundraising. During his time at Clarion, he secured the second largest gift in the history of the department of athletics. Additionally, over $800,000 in scholarships and $300,000 in pledges were secured in his time there.
From 2014-2016, Jones worked at Lincoln University (MO) where he served as the Executive Director of the Blue Tiger Athletics Club which he built from the ground up. Jones doubled the membership in a year and quadrupled social media interactions. He was part of a team that was responsible for the highest fundraising total in the history of the University.
Before his time at Lincoln, Jones spent three years at North Carolina Central University, first as Development Associate and then Development Coordinator. His primary responsibilities included managing the day to day operations of the Eagle Club and securing corporate sponsorships.
A native of Goldsboro, N.C., Jones earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education and his master's degree in Athletic Administration from North Carolina Central University. Jones is currently pursuing his doctorate in Higher Education from Temple University. Jones is also a proud alumnus of the Learfield/IMG College Minority Academy (2019), Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, formally known as the NCAA Leadership Institute (2018) and an active member of several professional organizations including National Association of Athletics Development Directors (NAADD), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) and Council for the Support of Education (CASE). Jones was a 2016 recipient of the 40 Under 40 award from his alma mater.
"Chris has demonstrated over the last six months that he is more than ready to lead our athletics development team so we are pleased to remove the 'interim' from his title," said Dunphy. "Besides his work during his interim status, Chris has been a valuable member of our athletics development staff since his arrival in 2018. He also had been successful throughout his career which includes stops at three other universities."
"I would like to thank Vice President for Development Jim Cawley, Associate Vice President for Development Jeremy Wang, and Acting Director of Athletics Fran Dunphy for their faith in me to serve in this capacity," said Jones. "Truly it is an exciting time to be at Temple University and I am looking forward to continue engaging with some of the best alumni, donors and fans in college athletics as the team and I work tirelessly to move the philanthropic needle for our deserving student-athletes."
Jones joined the Temple staff as the Assistant AD for Major Gifts in October 2018. In his role, he devised development strategies and was responsible for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts of $50,000 and up and leadership annual gifts. Since his arrival, Jones has been a member of a team that has broken a fundraising record each year including a 58% increase in gifts of the top three annual levels $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000+. Jones also created and implemented a major gift strategy for the department that included opportunities for basketball locker naming opportunities and strength and nutrition stations for all sports.Â
Prior to joining Temple Athletics, Jones served two years (2016-18) as Director of Development for Athletics at Clarion University where he oversaw all athletics fundraising. During his time at Clarion, he secured the second largest gift in the history of the department of athletics. Additionally, over $800,000 in scholarships and $300,000 in pledges were secured in his time there.
From 2014-2016, Jones worked at Lincoln University (MO) where he served as the Executive Director of the Blue Tiger Athletics Club which he built from the ground up. Jones doubled the membership in a year and quadrupled social media interactions. He was part of a team that was responsible for the highest fundraising total in the history of the University.
Before his time at Lincoln, Jones spent three years at North Carolina Central University, first as Development Associate and then Development Coordinator. His primary responsibilities included managing the day to day operations of the Eagle Club and securing corporate sponsorships.
A native of Goldsboro, N.C., Jones earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education and his master's degree in Athletic Administration from North Carolina Central University. Jones is currently pursuing his doctorate in Higher Education from Temple University. Jones is also a proud alumnus of the Learfield/IMG College Minority Academy (2019), Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, formally known as the NCAA Leadership Institute (2018) and an active member of several professional organizations including National Association of Athletics Development Directors (NAADD), Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) and Council for the Support of Education (CASE). Jones was a 2016 recipient of the 40 Under 40 award from his alma mater.
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