Digital Commons Network^™

Age Segmentation In The Life Coaching Industry: A Needs-Based Approach, Timothy Reisenwitz

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Life coaching is the second-fastest-growing industry in the world. Most previous research has used a results-based approach with relatively small sample sizes. The current research uses a needs-based approach to identify whether older or younger consumers are better candidates for a life coaching session or program. A hard-copy questionnaire used existing scales based on industry indicators to identify viable life-coaching clients. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data, with gender as the covariate or moderating variable. Results showed that younger consumers are generally better candidates for life coaching, while gender was only significant for one …

Weighted War: A Team-Specific Approach To Optimizing Mlb Rosters, Paul Wendler

CMC Senior Theses

This paper introduces a new baseball statistic, Weighted WAR (wWAR), designed to enhance Major League Baseball (MLB) roster optimization by incorporating team-specific factors into player valuation. Traditional WAR (Wins Above Replacement) offers a generalized measure of player performance relative to the league minimum salaried player. The study bridges the gap by developing wWAR, a customizable, team-specific framework for evaluating player impact. Taking player data, team data, and salary data from 2021-2023 the study proves the significance of wWAR’s impact relative to the traditional WAR statistic using case studies and regression analysis. The results demonstrate that wWAR outperforms traditional WAR in …

Optimal Capital Allocation Decisions And Investments In The Nba, Anderson Cynkar

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between salary concentration and winning in the NBA, primarily focusing on how the concentration of payroll among top-earning players influences success. Several concentration metrics were constructed and employed including the use of a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) to measure the share of payroll each player receives across a team. I used fixed effects regressions and clustered standard errors at a team level to control for unobserved factors that remain the same over time. The results revealed a consistent inverted U-shape curve, signaling that an optimal concentration of capital exists for the highest paid player, two highest …

Pitching For Reform: Cangrejeros' Push To Level The Legal Playing Field By Challenging Baseball's Antitrust Exemption, Justin P. Chaljub

Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law

For over one-hundred years, professional baseball has enjoyed an antitrust exemption unique among American major sports leagues, stemming from Supreme Court decisions in Federal Baseball and its progeny. This exemption has significantly influenced the evolution and structure of Major League Baseball (MLB). Despite extensive criticism and challenges for judicial and legislative reform, the exemption persists today.

However, new efforts have emerged to comprehensively disrupt this framework. In 2023, Nostalgic Partners was brought and structured to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Plaintiffs anticipated they would lose at the lower court levels and garnered widespread support for the Court to grant a …

Collegiate Athlete Branding And Name, Image, And Likeness On Instagram, Carson Shaw, Renu Pariyadath

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

This study explores how collegiate athletes use Instagram to build their personal brands and maximize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) potential in the era of digital self-promotion. Since the 2021 Supreme Court ruling allowing college athletes to profit from NIL, social media has become a key platform for visibility, engagement, and financial opportunity. Guided by Erving Goffman’s Self-Presentation Theory, this research employs a qualitative content analysis of 80 Instagram posts from eight collegiate athletes—four high-profile and four low-profile—representing diverse sports, genders, and institutions. Sixteen content themes drawn from prior research were analyzed, including personal life, business life, athletic performance, …

Confronting Indecision, Lane Allison Murray

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This course aims to increase students' understanding of indecision and how to confront it. The class provides insight into how the fear of the unknown holds people back from making decisions and about understanding one's values as a means to combat indecision. Students and teachers alike explore instances of indecision and evaluate their own impulses & thought processes by reflecting on the deeper reasons for their choices. Students will increase their comfort level of asking themselves and their peers questions about the values that guide them and, in doing so, strengthen their relationships with themselves and others.

“I Know More About What We Can’T Do Than What We Can”: Division I Women’S Sports Athletes’ Perceptions Of Name, Image, And Likeness, Jalyn Jimerson, Courtney Jones, Quinn Lukens, Marina Miller, Sarah Stokowski, Michael Godfrey, Trevor Bopp, Chris Corr

The COSMA Journal

This study investigated women’s sport athletes’ perceptions of their ability to profit off name, image, and likeness (NIL) as current participants in collegiate athletics. Researchers conducted comprehensive semi-structured interviews with eight women’s sport athletes representing four NCAA Division I member institutions. Participants explained how institutionally organized programmatic educational initiatives primarily codified impermissible forms of NIL compensation while often omitting information about permissible NIL opportunities. Furthermore, participants considered themselves minimally involved in the NIL space, feeling on the low to average side of NIL engagement compared to their athlete-peers competing in men’s sports. The findings of this study are informative for …

Student Speed Dating As A Catalyst For Creative Idea Generation In Sport Management Programs, Logan Schuetz Ph.D., Yo Han Lee Ph.D., Tyler J. Hajek, Brandy Runyan

The COSMA Journal

This article presents a novel approach to addressing the challenges of idea generation among students in higher education, particularly in the field of sport management. Based on research into student engagement and creativity, the authors suggest incorporating speed dating techniques into both in-person and online classes. Speed dating sessions, conducted in breakout rooms via platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, offer students multiple opportunities to engage in brief, structured interactions, thereby enhancing their presentation skills, idea generation, and perspectives through structured, rapid interactions. Additionally, this method encourages greater collaboration and active participation, improving the overall learning environment. This strategy not …

The Reclassification Of Sport Management, Robyn Lubisco, Kerry Fischer, Genevieve F.E. Birren, Kathleen Burke

The COSMA Journal

Institutions of higher education use Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes to categorize and track academic programs. Developed by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), CIP codes are used for various purposes, including data collection, analysis, and reporting (NCES, 2010). Academic administrators can use CIP data to initiate or revise academic curriculum, develop market research for new programs, and reallocate programs. Institutions can establish benchmarks in the form of teaching, research, qualifications, and funding (Knudson, 2016). A survey distributed in November 2022 to members of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) revealed less than one percent of …

Youth Sport Organizational Leaders’ Perceived Strengths And Challenges Working With Volunteer Coaches: A Case Study, Hannah Swartz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Youth sport organizations in the United States rely heavily on volunteer coaches to deliver accessible and developmentally aligned programming, yet little research has examined how organizational leaders perceive and manage this volunteer workforce. Existing scholarship has focused primarily on volunteer coach motivations and experiences from the coach perspective, leaving a gap in understanding the views of those responsible for recruiting, training, retaining, and supporting volunteers. Guided by the youth sport social-ecological model (NYSS, 2019), the recent USOPC Commission Report, and principles of self-determination theory (Ryan. & Deci, 2000), this instrumental case study explored youth sport organizational leaders’ perceptions of working …

Nirsa Student Referees: Exploring The Connection Between Sense Of Community And Positive Health And Well-Being Outcomes, Jacob K. Tingle

School of Business Faculty Research

Despite working in complex environments, which require managing antagonistic and abusive relationships, sport referees are essential to ensure fair and safe competition. Evidence suggests officiating can positively impact well-being and officiating communities provide social support. Despite those positives, there remains a shortage of qualified officials, which is compounded by aging referee populations. These concerns emphasize the need to attract young people and examine well-being benefits resulting from involvement in officiating communities. As such, the aim of this study is to help NIRSA professionals better understand how the community or social networks made through officiating intramural sports could better support student …

Harvest Gold Distillery, Alexis Mackey, Alexander Grecco, Cole Smith, Maggie Patterson, Blake Benko

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of our research project is to establish and grow Harvest Gold Distillery: a corn-based liquor distillery in Ohio that aims to produce and sell high-quality spirits while offering unique services that enhance outreach in the community. The motivation behind this business venture is rooted in one of our team member’s family traditions; Alex’s family makes homemade liquors, which has fostered an in-depth understanding of the distillation process. Alex’s firsthand experience with the craft provides a solid foundation, yet we recognize that starting a distillery involves significant challenges and requires thorough research in several functions of business. This project …

The Leadership Pivot: How Labor Market Dynamics And The Ncaa Transfer Portal Impacts Leadership, Evan Wilson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will cover a multitude of topics specific to my major, and also will use my in depth knowledge and connections within a collegiate sport to analyze how labor market changes effect the leadership styles of leaders within a given industry. This project is going to challenge me as a student because of the in depth research and data collection that will be necessary to not only educate myself about labor markets and leadership styles, but also educate myself enough to be able to present the information in a way that is digestible to readers. The other aspect of …

Adapting To Win: Churchill Downs Inc. And The New Era Of Entertainment And Betting., Mahesh Gupta, William Ferko, Thomas E. Lambert

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Churchill Downs Inc. (CDInc), a cornerstone of the Thoroughbred racing industry and the distinguished host of the Kentucky Derby. Situated at a critical juncture in the rapidly evolving spheres of gambling and entertainment, CDInc faces unique challenges and opportunities to maintain its preeminence and adapt to new market demands. Utilizing the Service Triangle framework, this study offers a deep dive into CDInc’s strategic operations, service delivery, and competitive positioning. The framework helps illuminate how shifts in consumer behavior, technological innovations, and regulatory changes are reshaping the industry. Despite facing challenges such as declining …

2025-2026 Craft Academy Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The 2025-2026 Craft Academy Student Handbook.

Leveling The Playing Field: Comparing School-Based Interventions For Academic Success In Student Athletes With Learning Disabilities, Eryk Ramon Sanchinelli-Salazar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation examined the disparities in school-based interventions for student athletes without learning disabilities versus those with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities are defined as disorders that impact language comprehension, mathematical abilities, motor coordination, and attention. The perspectives of special education teachers, general education teachers, administrators, and coaches are considered in this analysis. This research used open ended qualitative interview questions with general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators, and coaches to gain an understanding of what supports they are providing for their student athletes with learning disabilities as opposed to their student athletes without learning disabilities. Through qualitative interviews with …

Hot Management Trends, Vanessa Ratten, Marthin G. Nanere, Miguel Pina E Cunha, Yuka Fujimoto, Ali Intezari, Jerónimo García-Fernández, Subas Dhakal, Waleed Omri, Jose Ramon Saura, Andrei Lux, Aymen Sajjad, Ana Lisboa, Clare D’Souza

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Basketball Beyond Paper, Chad Goebert

Global Sport Business Journal

Dean Oliver’s Basketball Beyond Paper is a thoughtful and in-depth follow-up to his paradigm-shifting work in 2004, Basketball on Paper. Twenty years after Basketball on Paper laid the groundwork for possession-based efficiency metrics, Oliver returns with a deeper focus: incorporating the human side of the game. Rather than simply refining statistical models, Oliver argues that understanding motivation, emotional ups and downs, distractions, and team dynamics is just as critical to winning as traditional data analysis. Written with a direct and technical style, Oliver not only advocates for the importance of analytics in the transformation of how basketball is played, but …

The Metaverse And Sport Fandom: Revolutionising Sport Consumption, Ashlee Morgan, Anthony Kerr

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article explores the potential transformative impact of the metaverse on sport consumption. While traditional sport environments cultivate a sense of communitas and liminality, where attendees experience unity and solidarity, the digital shift is redefining these dynamics. The metaverse offers new ways for sport consumers to engage, experience, and enter into an exchange. We present a model that conceptualises the multifaceted elements reshaping how sport is consumed, while also providing a framework to critically assess the implications of this transformation. We address both the opportunities and challenges presented with the expansion of virtual sport consumption and highlight legal and ethical …

Global Horizons: International Considerations Within Sport Management, Michael Ross, Reginald Overton, Bob Case

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

As experiential learning becomes increasingly prioritized within sport management curriculums found across the nation, an emerging need for a more in-depth understanding of the globalization of sport has become evident. Professional, collegiate, and even high school sports are displaying a global footprint though international competition and experiencing increased numbers of international players within their rosters.

While those of us in the academic realm continue to bridge the gap between academia and industry, it is essential to enhance the global perspective of our students by incorporating more international opportunities, such as study abroad programs, that blend academic components with real-world sports …

Academic Clustering For Athletes, Reginald Overton, Bob Case, Michael Ross

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

A trend is developing in academia as it relates to Student-Athletes and advisement practices. With the NIL deals and transfer portals on the continually evolving forefront of collegiate athletics it is difficult to keep the athletes not only eligible to compete but also on track to obtain a degree. A student athlete may be advised to take the track of an Integrated Studies degree and then a transfer to or from a Sport Management Degree. This occurs throughout both the undergraduate and graduate levels of higher education. In addition, certificate programs in athletic administration, sport marketing, sport management, and sport …

A Conceptual Framework Of Work Passion And Key Intelligences Among Coaches, Paul Yuseung Doh, Minjung Kim, Brent D. Oja

Journal of Applied Sport Management

This study proposes a conceptual framework that integrates work passion and three key intelligences: cultural intelligence, digital intelligence, and emotional intelligence, to enhance coaching effectiveness and psychological well-being in sport. The framework explores the anticipated antecedents and outcomes of work passion and these intelligences among coaches. The proposed framework contributes theoretically by highlighting the role of work passion and integrative intelligences as foundational elements for innovative work behaviors in sport coaching, which ultimately enhancing both coaching effectiveness and psychological well-being among coaches. This framework also offers practical insights for sport organizations to strategically invest in coaching development, promoting adaptive, tech-savvy, …

What Happens When Grit Goes Bad? Conceptualizing “Dark” Grit Among Sport Employees, Brent D. Oja, Samantha L. Jordan

Journal of Applied Sport Management

This paper details the complexities of the construct known as “grit” and specifically examines the potential for the positive effects of grit to turn maladaptive or “dark.” Although grit is commonly viewed as a generative construct that helps individuals achieve success and experience well-being, past scholars have suggested there could be a “too much of a good thing” effect whereby the helpful outcomes of grit reach a turning point and become detrimental. We propose that the sport industry is an ideal environment for this phenomenon to occur because the industry has high labor demands, and its employees have a strong …

Fostering Sport Employees’ Passion And Enhancing Organizational Success In Intercultural Sporting Events, Young Do Kim, Chanwook Do, Paul Yuseung Doh

Journal of Applied Sport Management

This study emphasizes the role of sport employees’ passion in intercultural sporting events, specifically within professional sport leagues in the United States. The proposed framework identifies key factors that shape employee passion and explore its impact on organizational success, highlighting how fostering passion enhances innovative work behavior, intercultural communication effectiveness, task performance, and psychological well-being. Additionally, this research highlights the importance of cultural intelligence and meaningful work within the conceptual framework. The study offers strategies for sports organizations to cultivate passion, thereby strengthening employees’ work behavior in intercultural sporting contexts.

Passion For What? Key Considerations For Passion In The Sport Workplace, Steve Swanson

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The sporting world is replete with emotion. Intense feelings of many forms are experienced by a wide range of actors consuming sport, with passion receiving some of the greatest attention across a spectrum of emotions studied in sport management. The notion of passionate employees is ubiquitous in the sport environment, with research suggesting emotion from the sporting arena spills over to the workplace. This article highlights key considerations about sport employee passion that need addressing, including what it is that they are actually passionate about, the role that identity plays for these individuals, and whether sport employee passion is inherently …

Passion In Sport Management Research: Looking Back To Move Ahead, Jiayao Qi, Marshall Magnusen, Samuel Y. Todd

Journal of Applied Sport Management

As a nearly “abused” term, passion is pervasive and distinctive concept in the sport industry. However, research about passion has often been limited to mainstream frameworks such as the dualistic model of passion, which was originally developed among sport participants (e.g., athletes) with survey-based research methods. Though helpful, this has created a gap between what the current literature offers and what is needed from contemporary passion research in sport management. Notably, more attention needs to be given to both sport job seekers and sport employees. Accordingly, in this piece, we look back on passion, covering its history, key theories, and …

Perspectives On Passion In Sport Management Research, Marshall Magnusen

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The focus of this special issue is to continue to broaden discussions of passion in sports to management contexts with sport personnel rather than marketing contexts with sport consumers. This is done through an offering of several “think pieces” with the goal of inspiring new and creative scholarship about passion in sport work environments.

Scoring Points With Purpose: The Interplay Of Passion At Work And Corporate Social Responsibility In Sports Organizations, Christos Anagnostopoulos

Journal of Applied Sport Management

This article explores the dynamic relationship between passion at work and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within sports organizations, highlighting how CSR initiatives can actively nurture and enhance employees’ passion for their careers in this sector. Drawing on 15 years of research in this area, I reference two relevant theoretical approaches that provide a solid foundation for my arguments. Through this discussion, I advocate for a strategic alignment of employee passion and CSR, illustrating how such integration can positively influence both organizational culture and community engagement. Ultimately, this article calls for a deeper understanding of how passionate employees, empowered by meaningful …

To Book Or Not To Book: A Case Analysis Of The Mydisney Experience Mobile Application And The Future Of Consumer Engagement, Cody T. Havard

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

As more participatory services lean heavily into the use of mobile applications to engage consumers, it has become increasingly important to gain a better understanding of such amenities. The current case analysis discusses the use of the MyDisney Experience mobile application in the fall of 2024. The case analysis uses an autoethnographic approach to investigate how the application added to and subtracted from the user experience. Implications and future directions of research are discussed.

Perceived Environmental Uncertainty Levels Of Ncaa Athletic Directors, Tiffany Brutus

Dissertations, 2020-current

This study explores predictors of perceived environmental uncertainty among college athletic directors (ADs) of National Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions amidst the evolving dynamics of the intercollegiate athletics industry. This research specifically focuses on uncertainty associated with environmental forces outlined in the political, economic, sociocultural, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL)model, which captures recent industry disruptions such as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation, social justice movements, the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in transfer rules, and conference realignments. Using a contingency theory perspective, the central inquiry of this study is how AD individual, departmental, and institutional characteristics relate to ADs' perceptions …