Detroit — Cheyney University sits approximately 25 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. Established in 1837, Cheyney University is the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campus in the United States. It has become the institution where many prominent people lay the groundwork for their careers and lives, including late CBS News journalist Ed Bradley, who graduated in 1964.
In 2007, Dr. China Jude walked through the doors of Cheyney University to serve as athletics director. Little did she know that the four years she spent at the helm of the university would lay the foundation for her career. This experience ultimately led her to become a three-time athletic director, from Queens College (2011-2018) and Chadron State College (2024).
She also served as the senior associate athletics director for administration and senior woman administrator at the University of Wyoming (2018-2021), and as vice president of the Denver Broncos (2021-2023). Each stop culminated in Jude becoming — nearly 20 years later — the president of business operations for the Motor City Cruise, the NBA G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons.
“Being in three different types of schools as an athletic director, you come with some diversity, experiences and you have to be creative, and that creativity was really welcomed here,” Jude told The Detroit News. “I’ve been the inaugural, or the first woman, or the first woman of color — 12 different times. Most of the time, when I walk through the door, I am either starting something from scratch or making adjustments. There are some unique skills you have to have when you are typically the first.”
The 2025-26 G League season was Jude’s first full year leading the Cruise, following her hiring in January 2025. On her first day at the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, Jude asked her employees to participate in an exercise called, “Stop, Keep and Start.”
It was her way of identifying which aspects of the franchise were successful and what needed improvement under her stewardship. It was a crucial moment, given that Jude’s first full season would coincide with the Cruise’s fifth-anniversary celebration in Detroit.
The results enabled the Cruise to achieve several goals in her first season, including generating the franchise’s second-highest revenue and enhancing the team’s profile in the community while embracing its campaign of the “Motor City Mentality.”
“It has been exciting and new. We have evolved in so many different ways,” Jude said. “It goes to show all of the hard work and dedication that everybody has put in. It has really paid off in so many different ways. Everything has been exciting and new.”
Jude was also at the forefront of launching the One Cruise Campaign, which leans into three pillars to impact the community through health and fitness, education and social impact. Every step of Jude’s career and life experience has contributed to her success with the Cruise, leading to significant progress on the business side since her tenure began.
“China has made community outreach a clear priority in her first full season with the Cruise, and the results have been tangible — higher attendance, stronger social engagement and deeper connections with fans of all ages,” Pistons president of business operations Melanie Harris said. “She’s a creative, passionate leader whose extensive sports experience has quickly translated into meaningful growth for the organization.”
The letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law
Much of Jude’s success with the Cruise can be attributed to her college-level experience. However, Jude’s career achievements are also rooted in her military background, shaped by her late father, James Jude, a U.S. Navy veteran.
As a Chicago native, Jude learned the importance of knowing when to follow guidelines carefully while balancing creativity with the need to remain moral, legal and ethical. This model was the central figure in understanding what has and hasn’t worked for the Cruise, as she took the helm of the franchise.
“When we move — hence the term One Cruise — we move as one,” Jude said. “That’s like in a military fashion. We all move together, so we are all committed to how the Cruise is evolving.”
The military has had a significant impact on Jude’s life. In addition to her father, her late brother, Gino Jude, and her son, Tommy Oliver Jr. — all of whom served — her family has a strong military tradition. However, as a former student-athlete, Jude received a volleyball scholarship to Alabama State at 16, which taught her how to blend her passion for sports with her military background from an early age.
“Being in a service family is a great honor,” Jude said. “It made me appreciate, not just the small things, but the big things in life. Knowing how to serve the country and giving back in many different ways. It is just special.”
Jude’s dominance on the court led to her becoming an All-Conference volleyball player. However, after her sophomore season, Jude decided to secretly enlist in the military — a decision influenced by receiving a “not-so-attractive” report card that read “B, C, D and F.” She would serve for eight years as a reserve in the U.S. Navy, beginning in the mid-1980s.
One of her most significant achievements was serving as one of the first women aboard a Navy ship during the USS Enterprise’s Weekend Training (WET). The choice to enlist in the military was one of two pivotal moments in Jude’s life that shaped her into the leader she is today. The other came while discovering peace and strength in the wake of losing her late mother, Nedra Jude.
“It was devastating. I felt as if I had lost my compass,” Jude said. “After going through my grieving process, I had to take a step back and really ask myself, ‘What are you really going to do now?’ I had done all of these amazing things, but what is your true calling?”
At that time, Jude served as the senior woman administrator at Coppin State University, which made her the highest-ranking woman in a college athletic department. The promotion occurred in the same week that her mother passed away.
Despite the pain she was experiencing, Jude realized it was time to focus on making a greater impact. Her realization led her to find a way to use athletics not only to share her testimony but also to support other women as they navigate their own journeys.
“Sometimes, when you lose someone that close, you think you might need to switch, but it just reconfirmed that staying in sports was good for my soul,” Jude said. “I still talk to my mom in my heart. I really feel like she would be really proud of the decisions I made professionally and personally, too.”
Building upon a good start
During the interview process for the Cruise’s president of business operations vacancy, Harris said Jude’s experience and willingness to execute her plans stood out. Harris also said she came in with clear ideas on how to grow fan engagement and the business, along with actionable plans — her blend of vision and execution made her an easy hire.
Her hiring showcased Tom Gores’ dedication to bringing in innovative leaders and fresh perspectives within the organization. It aligned with Jude’s desire to embody her aspiration to be a paragon for women — especially women of color — in leadership roles.
“While women of color haven’t traditionally been the image of leadership in men’s pro sports, I think our leadership, and similar diversity on the basketball side of both teams, reflects Tom’s commitment,” Harris said. “My hope is that, over time, diversity in these roles is no longer seen as exceptional — especially in sports, where the talent on the court already reflects the world’s diversity.”
Jude understands that to continue thriving, she cannot become complacent and must keep advancing her career. It’s the same sentiment Jude has carried into the offseason as she begins to build on last season’s success. In year one, Jude laid the groundwork for a successful tenure that is rooted in the team’s impact on the community. To further expand the One Cruise Campaign, Jude and her team aim to delve deeper into cyberbullying as a new pillar.
Jude is focused on advancing her career with the Cruise, aiming to utilize her various strengths to further propel the franchise, just as she did during her time at Cheyney University. The strong foundation has supported her over a career spanning more than 20 years, and she is now thriving in the Motor City.
“It has been a blessing to be at a place where I feel welcomed, received, and grow individually and help others grow,” Jude said. “We’re elevating by spending more time in the community — this is a beautiful community.”
Coty.Davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: How sports, military passion led to China Jude’s business success with Cruise
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
