Creating a Culture of Connection: JMU SAAC Welcome Back Night

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- In the spring of 2023, James Madison Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Leadership Development Cassidy Clements attended the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum (SALF) in Baltimore, Md. During the event, Clements got to know Jonathan Sprinkles, the assigned keynote speaker for the event. He quickly left an impression and caught her attention through his powerful words and energy.

This year, Clements was put in charge to choose the keynote speaker for JMU SAAC's Welcome Back Night for the 2024-2025 academic calendar year. She knew from the connection she formed with Sprinkles at SALF that he was ultimately the right choice for the role. Flying in from Houston, Texas for the Aug. 19 event, Sprinkles set the standard early through the night and left a lasting impact on our student-athlete community. His speech was motivational, educational, personal and will deeply resonate with these athletes for seasons to come. After accepting the role,

Each student-athlete in attendance will have different perspectives from this night and we'd love to share a few. Current SAAC Co-President Hope Moulin, a senior women's tennis player, joined Jonathan on stage and described him as "one of the most interactive and motivational speakers JMU has seen. He did a great job connecting with us on a personal level and demonstrated what true leadership entails." Suzanne Earnshaw, a senior on the swim and dive team and current SAAC member, emphasized that "Jonathan's speech effectively captured the essence of being a student-athlete at JMU. I was particularly moved by the activities that brought the group closer together in just one session. It felt like I was in a conversation with him the whole night, which was very cool."

Coordinator for Student-Athlete Leadership Development Marcus Bell had the opportunity to talk with Sprinkles one-on-one before the event. He shared his insights from the sit-down conversation, saying "everyone has their own reason for wanting to touch the line. Pain has been my motivator to show up every day and touch the line. From a team standpoint, it's important for everyone to have their own reason and for everyone on that team to understand each other's reason."

After reaching out to Jonathan a week later, I had the chance to hear his perspective from the stage. He said, "JMU is a special place, with a special vibe, where student-athletes can do something special in their careers. Once I got to campus, it didn't take long for me to see what the hype was about. And even since I left, I'm still working with and coaching some student-athletes who have reached out to me. You can tell that they really want it here, and I'm willing to do everything in my power to make sure they get it."

Through his thoughtful approach and eagerness to engage with the audience, Jonathan's passion to help student-athletes had the ability to motivate this crowd of hardworking student-athletes, enhanced their understanding of values, leadership, and teamwork, and reminded each athlete of their worth and contribution to their team. We will carry this message Jonathan sent by setting the standard every day and hitting our own line.

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