Ron Baines joined the New Jersey City University Department of Athletics in December of 2021 as the Assistant Director of Career Engagement and Program Development. In this role, he serves as the NJCU athletics liaison to community-based organizations by providing internship and career development opportunities with the goal of Gothic Knight student-athletes finding gainful employment. Baines works as a key member of the Rising Knight Institute.
"Thank you to Shawn Tucker, Dr. Danielle Beam and the rest of the hiring committee on their decision," said Baines. "The committee has made this process a very smooth transition for me and my family. I look forward to working alongside all the greats that have been part of the NJCU family."
Prior to joining the fold at NJCU, Baines spent time with Urban Youth Racing School, the National Football League, the BIG3 basketball league and IMG College.
Most recently, he spent time with UYRS in Philadelphia as a STEM Program Manager, where he worked with student-athletes to utilize motorsports as an introduction to STEM, guided them in college and major selection process, as well as career planning. Before that, he was a Marketing Manager, where he created brand awareness for UYRS, tracked success metrics of the program and created/managed an iRacing League that had global competition. Baines had been with the company since June of 2020.
Before moving to the City of Brotherly Love, Baines worked in Player Social Marketing with the NFL at the league's headquarters in New York City beginning in September of 2019. In that role, he worked with incoming draft picks, assisting them with social media training, tracked current and former NFL players social media activity and measured the league's overall performance analytics for weekly monitoring.
Baines joined the NFL's ranks after working the 2019 BIG3 season in player personnel, working primarily in a career engagement, marketing and community relations capacity for the league. Simultaneously, he served as former NBA player Ryan Hollins' assistant during Hollins' time on ESPN's First Take. Baines' first experience after graduation came in partnership sales with IMG College beginning in October of 2017, working with St. John's University in sponsorship and promotions.
A 2016 graduate of Bowie State University in Maryland, Baines earned a bachelor of science in sports management. He was also a three-year varsity member of the Bulldogs Division II football program, appearing in 22-career games as a strong safety. A 2011 graduate of Eastern Regional High School, he was named First Team All-State and All-South Jersey as a senior. Baines went on to earn a master's of science in sports management, with a concentration in international marketing, from St. John's in Queens in 2019.
A native of Voorhees, N.J., Baines currently resides in West Deptford, N.J.
What They're Saying:
"Ron is the missing puzzle piece to the next level success of RKI," said Dr. Danielle Beam, associate director of athletics. "He brings in such a diverse background of experience in a variety of athletic and educational arenas from working with the NFL to youth STEM initiatives. Ron’s passion for student success is powerful and inspiring. I have no doubt that with his vision, our students will be supported in their journey toward both their career development and placement. This is a major win for our students and RKI. Ron will be the driving force behind new key student-career centered initiatives to advance RKI’s success. Shawn Tucker has been a rockstar of a leader in reinforcing the need for support in career development and engagement for our students. Athletes give so much of themselves to the sport and the department. Shawn has been a constant champion for the need to provide the best support to students so they can be successful after their time as a student and an athlete is done here."
