Name: John Ashaolu
Position/Institution: Director of Athletics at Point Park University
Number of years in your position: 2.5 years
Alma Mater(s): University of New Orleans/Xavier University of Louisiana/Duquesne University
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Personal Twitter Handle: @PointParkUAD
Institution Athletics Twitter Handle: @PointParkSports

1. Why did you become involved in the NAIA-ADA?
I became involved in the NAIA-ADA to build a network, learn from my colleagues around the country and also for professional development.

2. What is your favorite part about being a member of the NAIA-ADA?
My favorite part is being part of a group that champions the NAIA, its member institutions and the student-athletes that we serve. It also provides a platform for networking and professional development.
 
3. What is the biggest challenge to working in a university environment?
From the lens of small college athletics, the biggest challenge would be consistently having the resources needed to continually improve the student-athlete experience as I don't ever want my student-athletes to feel that they are not equipped with everything needed to compete at the highest levels on and off the athletic playing field.
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4. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment to date?
My greatest accomplishment to date is the continued improvement of the fundraising in our athletics department. An example of this was being able to run our annual golf outing this past fall. With our university just returning back to campus in the fall and providing the campus community our COVID-19 protocols, there was a lot confusion on whether we would be able to have our annual golf outing which is one of our highest revenue generating events.  We started planning every aspect of the golf outing with every intention of having the outing, but four weeks prior to the date of the outing, I was told to put a pause to all the planning. In the following week, I had to communicate a plan on how we would operate the golf outing safely, then a week later, we got the approval to continue our plans, but now the pressure was on for my staff and I to get everything back on track in two weeks. Within two weeks, we went from 20 golfers to 112, we were able to get more corporate sponsors than we've ever had. At the end of the day, we were able to have the most profitable golf outing in its 10-year history and our attendees enjoyed the opportunity to have a sliver of normalcy.
 
5. What is the most important skill you have developed in your career?
The most important skill that I have developed in my career is my people skills. With my experience working on the coaching side of athletics then transitioning to an athletic director at small colleges, it is imperative to be able to connect with all types of people because in a typical day you can have a student-athlete in your office, a phone call from a donor, a conversation with a parent, a meeting with a faculty member and a discussion with one of the university's physical plant staff. At a small college, you are easily and readily accessible to everyone because you don't have a staff of multiple assistant and associate athletic directors, so you need to be able to connect with people and be an astute problem solver.

6. Who has been the most influential person in your career?
My mother would have to be the most influential person, she taught me a lot about work ethic and perseverance. But I would also be remiss not to mention some of my former coaches and bosses who have helped shaped my growth in college athletics- Ro Russell (Grassroots Canada), Nikita Johnson (Austin Peay University MBB), Dannton Jackson, Ron Everhart (West Virginia University MBB), Mack McCarthy (East Carolina University MBB).
 
7. What is one item you purchased during quarantine that you recommend everyone purchase?
It's not something that I purchased, but I actually started working out more and now I'm making more use of my gym membership and working out 3 times a week for the past year.

8. Who would you choose to switch places with for a day?
I would switch places with Warren Buffet.
 
9. If you could plan a vacation to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would go to my favorite vacation spot, Turks and Caicos. My wife and I went there four summers in a row, then we had kids and we haven't been in four years.
 
10. What is your favorite sporting that event you have ever attended?
Oregon vs. USC football game at Autzen Stadium, during the NBA lockout season. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul were also in attendance.
 
11. Why did you decide to pursue a career in collegiate athletics?
As a former collegiate student-athlete, I knew that I would probably work in athletics, it was a seamless transition first on the coaching side, then as an administrator. 
 
12. In your mind, who in this industry can serve as a good role model?
There are many that I have come across and communicate with, but the two who I lean on most are Jason Horn (Director of Athletics and Recreation at Xavier University of Louisiana) and David Harris (Director of Athletics at University of Northern Iowa).
 
13. How has your involvement with the NAIA-ADA influenced your career?
My involvement with the NAIA-ADA has influenced me to continue to evolve and learn about the various aspect of college athletics and to continue to diversify my skill set so I can better serve my staff and student-athletes.
 
14. What educational or business experiences best prepared you for a career as an Athletics Director?
My experience as a student-athlete coupled with my experience as a coach, have helped me grow my leadership skills and also helped me understand the perspectives of both a student-athlete and a coach.
 
15. What challenges do you face when working with student-athletes?
The challenge that I consistently face is trying to get student-athletes to assess situations from a 30,000 foot view as oppose to five foot view. I think most student-athletes only want to live in the "here and now" and fail to understand how an act can have an effect on their lives in the future.
 
16. Would you please explain a professional success and how you implemented it?
Shortly after starting at Point Park University, I wanted to find a way to recognize our student-athletes and also to market our student-athletes and their accomplishments to the campus community as well as our external stakeholders. I decided to start a 'Male and Female Student-Athlete of Month' award to recognize our top male and female student-athletes each month.  Whenever we choose our winners each month, we put up posters of the winners all over campus and announce it on our social media channels and press releases. As you walk into our Student Center, the first thing you see are the posters of the winners for each month of the year. It's been successful to the point of where the award is now sponsored by a local restaurant (Bob's Sub) that provides each of the winner a gift card to the restaurant. Our student-athletes really appreciate it.
 
17. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What advice would you give to someone looking to become an NAIA Athletics Director?
The best piece of advice that I have ever received that is related to my profession is to always make decisions that are in the best interests of my student-athletes. The advice that I would give to someone looking to become an NAIA Athletics Director is to expose themselves to all parts of an athletic department, both external and internal.

18. What was your biggest professional blunder and how did you learned from it?
My biggest professional blunder was promoting a coach from within without conducting a national search due to a time crunch. I learned that I need to peel back the layers a bit more and take time to do my due diligence before hiring a coach.

19. What is the best binge-worthy TV show during quarantine?
During quarantine, I discovered "The Chi" which I binge-watched within two weeks. 
 
20. What are you most looking forward to at the next NAIA or NACDA Convention?
I can remember my first NACDA Convention where I didn't know anyone, but now that I have been making connections around the country, I can't wait to meet everyone that I have connected with in person. I also look forward to the professional development sessions.