Ron Baines joined the New Jersey City University Department of Athletics in December of 2021 as the Associate Director of Career Engagement and Program Development and current serves as Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development, along with sport administrator responsibilities for six varsity programs. In addition to his operational roles with the Gothic Knights, Baines also served as the NCAA Division III Inclusive Leaders Program participant and New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) DEI Chairman, advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion within collegiate athletics.
With a career dedicated to enhancing student-athlete development and fostering philanthropic support in Intercollegiate Athletics, Baines brings over six years of experience NJCU. As Assistant Director of Athletics Student-Athlete Development, he oversees collaborative efforts within NJCU's athletics department, ensuring alignment with university and NCAA regulations. Leading a team of six, including sport oversight, he focuses on holistic student-athlete development while driving strategic initiatives to engage and steward donors effectively. Baines leadership is underscored by the development of comprehensive five- and 10-year strategic plans aimed at advancing NJCU's athletic programs and community impact.
Previously as Associate Director of Career Engagement & Program Development, Baines spearheaded the creation of a multi-year career development program tailored for NJCU student-athletes. By forging strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as DB Schenker, the New York Mets and CAA, he established crucial pipelines for student-athlete employment opportunities. Baines also organized impactful life skill seminars and workshops, enhancing financial literacy, resume writing and interview preparation among student-athletes.
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 Newark, N.J.
