FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 3, 2025) – Northern Arizona University head men's basketball coach
Shane Burcar has announced the hiring of Jon Ahola as the program's new Chief of Staff. Ahola officially joined the Lumberjacks in August in preparation for the 2025-26 season.
Ahola will serve the coaching staff in managing a wide range of responsibilities including leadership, name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities, transfer portal management, recruit, family and alumni player relationships, professional player programs and program fundraising.
Ahola brings a distinguished background in business leadership to the NAU Basketball program. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Global Research and Development for the Stryker Trauma & Extremities Division. During this time, Ahola and his team oversaw the successful integration of Wright Medical, the largest acquisition in the company's history. His team also launched over 40 new products, streamlined R&D processes, cut new product time to market and reduced overall R&D spend. Ahola has been very successful throughout his career at building large global and engaged teams, leading to multiple R&D awards and recognition.
The hiring of Ahola, with his performance orientation and business/financial acumen, puts the Lumberjacks at an elite level in the college basketball industry in recognizing the rapidly evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.
"This move is critical to navigate the new landscape of college basketball in NIL, recruiting and player development," Burcar said. "Jon's passion to serve and lead people is well-documented by the many successful people he has influenced. With Jon's work ethic we will be able to create the vision of the NAU Men's Basketball Family we all desire. As evidenced by building multiple professional relationships over his 29-plus year career in the medical device industry, Jon will help our program contend for Big Sky Championships annually."
In addition to his leadership roles at Stryker, Ahola served as the Executive Sponsor of Stryker's Emerging Professionals employee resource group, chaired Michigan Tech's Engineering Advisory Board, and completed multiple leadership development programs offered by Harvard University and Stryker. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
"Thank you to NAU for this incredible opportunity," Ahola said. "I couldn't be more excited to work with Coach Burcar, NAU alumni and the NAU Men's Basketball team to develop world class leaders on and off the court in our quest to win Big Sky Championships and entry to the NCAA Tournament! Let's Go 'Jacks!"
Ahola, along with his wife, Rebecca, will be relocating to Flagstaff during the season.
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