Floyd Jones retired from the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences on May 13, 2021, following 32 years of service to West Virginia University. Jones served as a sport management associate professor and taught both undergraduate and graduate students.
“I would like to thank Dr. Floyd Jones for his many years of service to the College. As a native West Virginian, he was always committed to the land-grant mission of the University. Throughout his time in CPASS, Dr. Jones has had a strong impact upon the College, our Sport Management Program and the many thousands of students with whom he has worked over the years. We will miss seeing Dr. Jones and hearing his passionate words and laughter echoing around the building. We wish him all the best in his retirement,” Jack Watson, dean, said.
Jones is known and respected for his sport management global expertise, collaborative efforts, mentorship and research leadership. Most recently, Jones spearheaded a research-focused collaboration that provided sport management graduate students with the opportunity to work directly with sports industry specialists. Students identified real-world business challenges in the marketplace and used data and problem-solving solutions to overcome market environments, financial concerns and other complex issues.
The relationship was designed to support students entering the industry with hands-on experience. Jones credited the industry leaders who contributed their time and expertise to guide students throughout the process. Students learned how to take ownership and walk away with useful knowledge. Jones attributed their transformation to the mentors and their patient, direct engagement and support.
Gary Lhotsky, sport management teaching associate professor and program coordinator, says that Jones was instrumental in starting the blended online Sport Management Master’s Program. “Students took online courses and came onto campus for two weeks for two consecutive summers. That program was the front-runner for the fully online program that we have today,” Lhotsky said. “The great thing about the hybrid program was that it enabled students who took most of their courses online to come on campus and better connect with their classmates, professors and University.”
“Floyd connected with those students and pushed them to perform. He hosted a picnic the day before the two-week summer session started. It was a great time seeing students from the previous summer along with students who were new to the program,” Lhotsky added.
Jones’ global sport management efforts included establishing an international partnership to build the capacity of sport and sport-related businesses within Zimbabwe. Jones led the way in establishing a relationship with executives and board of director members of the Sport Leadership Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ), to improve the quality of life and sport opportunities in their country.
Jones, a creator of the African Sport Management Association, met the SLIZ leaders in Kenya at the Physical Education and Health Sport Conference in 2009. They began discussing how to create a partnership to bring sport management education to Zimbabwe. Eventually, representatives visited the campus to expand professional development and academic courses related to sport management and other disciplines.
Jones earned his doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1988) in health, physical and recreation education with a concentration in sport administration, higher education administration, sport pedagogy and teacher education. He earned a Master of Science degree from WVU in sport behavior with a concentration in sport sociology and sports behavior. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Concord College with a major in education and concentration in secondary physical education and speech drama education.
Among his numerous awards, Jones was inducted into the West Virginia All-Black Schools Sports and Academic Hall of Fame, received the Fifty-Two Weeks of Peace by the Mayor's Office, City of Pittsburgh and the NAACP Homer S. Brown Award for community service. He served on innumerable committees and organizations focused on health, wellness, technology, international committees, faculty service and student advisory roles. His notable service to WVU and the College includes coordinating sport management career day and driving student involvement with the NFL Combine. He was co-founder of the undergraduate sport management club, student organization sponsor and sponsor of the international study abroad trip to Ghana.
Floyd Jones continues his passion for supporting low-income and otherwise minimalized community youth as executive director of Youth Enrichment Services in Pittsburgh, which he founded in 1994.