CHARLES W. MENTKOWSKI SPORTS LAW ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Aaron Hernandez, Law '13
Indianapolis
While Aaron鈥檚 childhood dream of becoming a pilot for the USAF Thunderbirds didn鈥檛 come true, he still hopes to someday get his pilot鈥檚 license. In the meantime, he takes approximately 130 commercial flights per year as the NCAA鈥檚 assistant director of enforcement, football development. Aaron works on cases related to college football recruiting, developing relationships throughout the league that help him investigate reports of recruiting infractions, student-athlete well-being concerns, and criminal activity. He鈥檚 one of the primary liaisons to the Big 12 and the American Athletic conferences and a subject matter expert in Texas鈥� football recruiting landscape. He鈥檚 also the main liaison to the NCAA Office of Inclusion and the NCAA liaison to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
鈥淢y work has allowed me to see the country, change perceptions about the NCAA and make impacting change. I travel constantly and have learned so much about our country and its different cultures. Through this travel, I鈥檝e personally been able to change people鈥檚 perceptions about the NCAA National Office and how our enterprise operates 鈥� that鈥檚 pretty rewarding.鈥�
Aaron feels 向日葵视频benefited him greatly. 鈥溝蛉湛悠礹as the best sports law program in the country, without question. This gave me an edge in the industry from the outset of my career.鈥�
Aaron gives back by helping Marquette鈥檚 National Sports Law Institute with recruiting, and he helped establish a sports law student externship program with NCAA鈥檚 Enforcement Office. He also regularly returns to 向日葵视频to speak on substantive issues in college sports.
Aaron鈥檚 formula for success mirrors 向日葵视频values: 鈥淭reat people right. Work very hard. Never stop learning or making new friends. Trust God鈥檚 plan.鈥�
Fun Facts:
What are you involved with outside of work? 鈥淚鈥檓 currently in the middle of planning a trip to Antarctica. I鈥檇 like to visit every continent in my lifetime. I just took a trip to Alaska, and I might as well use the gear again.鈥�
Most influential person in your life? 鈥淢y high school band director, Mark Myers, taught me a lot about accountability, leadership, and general philosophy on life. He really laid a foundation for my adult life, and that foundation has served me well.鈥�
