Former college basketball athlete Sadiaa Jones has been named the first-ever athletic director for Dallas College. Most recently, Jones was an associate athletic director at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where she led student-athletic programs while focusing on academic success.
Jones took the helm of the athletic department on June 1 in a newly created leadership role for the college. “I’m just extremely excited for the opportunity and looking forward to working with everyone,” said Jones, who was born in Elk City, Okla. “As a female director, this is a great opportunity for me, but it’s also a chance for students to see that there are lots of possibilities for them in athletics and higher education.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work at Dallas College,” Jones added. “I am familiar with Dallas, and that’s one of the things that drew me here. It’s one of my favorite cities.”
Jones, who has experience as a collegiate athlete at both a community and a four-year college, will oversee the day-to-day operations of athletic programs at Dallas College campuses. She has experience with compliance, eligibility, recruiting and oversight of multiple programs. At Northwestern Oklahoma, she was active with Women Leaders in College Sports and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
Dr. Beatriz Joseph, vice chancellor of student success at Dallas College, said Jones demonstrated both a passion and competence for leading the department.
“We are thrilled that Sadiaa Jones is taking over the leadership of our athletic program,” Dr. Joseph said. “She brings the experience, temperament and leadership qualities that guarantee success for our students in both athletics and academics.”
Jones has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
For 12 years, Jones served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at University of South Florida, University of Illinois at Chicago, Georgia Tech and California State University Fresno.
Additionally, she coached golf and volleyball, and she was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
Jones said she is looking forward to supporting Dallas College athletes past the malaise and uncertainty caused last year by COVID-19 when athletic programs were temporarily placed on hold. Mental health support, counseling and career coaching will be readily available for student athletes, she said.
“We’ll do whatever we need to do to make sure our athletes have everything they need,” Jones said.
