๐๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆHokie Nation, please welcome Dr. Javontรฉ Ashford to Blacksburg as our new Associate Athletics Director, Major Gifts. pic.twitter.com/dz5jIEqrtQโ Hokie Club (@HokieClub) September 25, 2025
Looks like we big dogged Tennessee?
Here is his bio from UT's website:
Dr. JaVonte' Ashford joined the Tennessee Fund in October 2021 and currently serves as an Assistant Athletics Director of Development. He is responsible for identifying and securing major gifts in support of UT Athletics.
Ashford comes to Tennessee from East Tennessee State University where he served as director of development for the College of Business and Technology. Prior to his time at ETSU, Ashford held several roles in athletics, including assistant athletic director at Emmanuel College in Royston, GA, and associate head wrestling coach and game day administrator at King University in Bristol, TN.
Ashford is originally from Roanoke, VA. A 2009 graduate of King University, he was a four-year starter on the wrestling team and the program's first ever All-American. He went on to earn a Master's in Higher Education Administration from McKendree University in Lebanon, IL and his Doctorate of Education in Global Sports Leadership from ETSU.
Comments
Prior fundraising experience, you say?
I will gladly take anyone from the Danny White tree.
Hiring from the Danny White AD tree is akin to hiring somebody from Bama under Saban. Big time department there. Don't think we could have pulled this off without massive changes underway in the AD.
This sets itself up nicely to announce a major gift to help fund the increased budget as a quick win for Ashford
Wow, that's a really great hire right off the bat to reshape the Hokie Club. This right here is a large part of the reason why I think Whit is definitely going to be out/announced out as of 09/30. He's certainly done some good things in the past as far as non-football hires, but the disorganization of the AD and completely negligent state the Hokie Club has been in as far as staff with actual fundraising experience (what a novel idea) necessitates an overhaul in leadership.
Fantastic move, FAM.
If anyone thought our institution might not be fully serious about follow through, this should help ease concerns.
This is a big fucking deal.
I remember seeing him in the paper when he was King's first all american. The guy loves NETN/SWVA. VT just caught a big fish.
Nice to see us poach someone from the SEC instead of the other way around for once
This is one of those jobs where I don't care if we pay them more than the coach or AD if it's tied to a percentage of funds brought in. Bring in $100M and gets $8 or $10M I am good with it. One of the few jobs that can show a direct impact to paying for themselves.
My numbers are just a for instance but open to flexibility more so than most other jobs.
Are these positions usually commission-based?
There were several posted last week on the VT careers page; Associate Athletic Director- Major Gifts , salary range 65,000-75,000.
We have a lot of these positions and not sure what differentiates between them. There's Terry Bolt, Phil Nesland, Bailey Angle and Brad Wurthman. Slightly different titles but more or less the same.
I recognize that the COL in Blacksburg is relatively low, but that's...not enough...
He was probably making less at Tennessee.
I don't see any of the positions i mentioned earlier on the web site anymore but there is a Director of Recruiting Operations- Football posted. A salary of 50,000-60,000 if anyone is interested...
Remember that there is the "VT salary" that comes from university funds, which is needed so people are officially VT employees, then other income that comes from Athletics. That can be additional base salary, incentives, etc. Technically, Brent Pry's VT salary was $50k but we all know that's not remotely true.
Thanks, this makes sense.
Ah, okay. that's more like it. was hoping we wasn't going to the bargain bin for sone of these positions
This is not a bargain bin hire, no matter what the salary number say.
I had no idea this was a thing.
Who is making the call to hire this guy right now? Is it Sands, or is Whit still somewhat involved?
I think this is a good hire and what the Hokie Club desperately needs. I wonder if he has a contract or compensation that we can take a look at. Does he get a percentage of dollars brought in? What is going to be his long term plan?
I've been wondering the same. Hard to imagine Whit stays. But also hard to imagine we just hired this dude + are actively searching for a football GM without the Athletic Director position sorted out...
I strongly speculate that the BOV Committee chaired by Rocovich is making the decisions and Sands is likely just giving them formal executive approval/rubber stamping them.
The patriots are in control.
Major Gifts
Wonder if this is like coaching, where he can bring some donors with him.
Major .gif
via GIPHY