Shot taken at the Lysakov Gallery in Pacific Grove - 65° Magazine

PERSONA 68
“I don’t advise that for everyone,” says Jamison,
“but I learned a lot from the experience. I learned
that wherever I am, that’s my home.”
As an adult, Jamison has found his home in
the classroom, the NBA, and now the NHL, where
he serves as CEO and President of the San
Jose Sharks.
Before entering the world of professional athletics,
Jamison was an elementary school teacher. In
his first year, he taught the fifth grade class that
nobody wanted — they were disruptive, challeng-
ing, and achieving below grade-level. He says that
there was “no teaching until March. There was just
survival.” But slowly he transformed the class. “We
came a long way. I taught them and they taught
me,” he says, while tossing an apple into the air.
He catches it without looking.
With the heart of a teacher and the mind of a
businessman, Jamison was on the fast track
to becoming a principal. He began pursuing a
master’s degree in education administration, but
midway through graduate school, he took a personality
test that changed everything. “It came
out that I love two things—sports and business,”
says Jamison, who sits comfortably in a tailored
suit on the locker room bench.
Growing up, Jamison was personally involved in
sports—he ran cross-country and track in high
school and played tennis in college. In high school,
Jamison ran a 4:35 mile and he looks like he could
still win a race or two.
Jamison took the advice of his high school track
coach about running the 8000m and applied it to
his career life — you have to sprint the first lap,
sprint the second lap, and rest in between. Having
”It’s hard to get a class of fifth graders to be quiet [but not harder than
winning the Stanley Cup].”
raced through the education lap, Jamison quickly
moved on to sports. Within a year of taking the
test, he had completely changed his direction from
education to athletics.
At the time, Jamison says he didn’t even know if
jobs in professional athletics existed. But they do.
And he’s had a few of them, including Director of
Marketing at Athletes in Action, a Christian sports
organization, and Vice President of Operations for
the Indiana Pacers.
Jamison says his most exciting job is the one he
has now. Before taking a position with the Sharks
in 1993, he had only ever seen two hockey games.
“I wasn’t always a hockey fan, but I am now,” says
Jamison, running his fingers across the awards that
line the locker room wall. “I like basketball,” he
says, “but I really like hockey.”
Jamison says that in many ways teaching prepared
him for his current job— it taught him presentation
skills and the ability to inspire a group.
“It’s hard to get a class of fifth graders to be
quiet,” he jokes. But not harder than winning the
Stanley Cup, which Jamison says is the ultimate
goal of the Sharks.
Perhaps the greatest lesson Jamison learned
in the classroom is that if you show people you
believe in them, they’ll work hard for you. When
Jamison began, the Sharks was a struggling team
with a poor record. Today they have a shot at
the championship. Jamison stares at a picture of
the Stanley Cup. Beneath it is a piece of metal
begging to be engraved.
“But you still have to have luck on your side,” he
says, pushing open the heavy locker room door.
On the way out, Jamison passes a janitor pushing a
cart of supplies. “Good afternoon, Mr. J,” says the
worker. “Afternoon,” says Jamison, flashing a kind
smile. Then he leans in and whispers, “Mr. J, that’s
what my kids used to call me.” °