TROY News Center

TROY – A Troy University professor and associate dean has been awarded the Sport Management Outstanding Achievement Award by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

Dr. John Miller, a professor of sport management and associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services, earned the accolade for outstanding contributions and leadership in the field during the 128^th National Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

“Since it has been suggested that AAHPERD was the first place that Sport Management academicians could present pertinent research a number of years ago, I am humbled and honored to have been selected for this award,” Dr. Miller said. “I am especially pleased to be included with past recipients such as David Stotlar, Janet Parks, and Herb Appenzeller who are recognized as the foremost authorities in their areas of sport management. “

Dr. Miller has been a coach, professor, researcher and author for more than 30 years. In addition to Troy University, he has been a faculty member at Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Western New Mexico, and Willamette (Ore.) University. He has also held the position of Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Coach at University of Wisconsin – Stout, Willamette University, and St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. He was selected as coach of the year five times and served as president of the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Association.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he was an associate athletic director for facilities at several universities. He has authored over 20 chapters, conducted more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences, and is the co-author of the book, A Practical Guide to Sport Management Internships. Dr. Miller has published more than 55 articles in peer-reviewed journals including the International Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Contemporary Athletics, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, and the Journal of Sport Administration & Supervision. He is a member of the review boards for the Journal of Applied Sport Management, Journal of Sport Management, Applied Recreation Research and Programming Annual Journal, the Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual Journal, and the Journal of Venue and Event Management. He currently serves as the editor of the Journal of the Legal Aspects of Sport.

An AAHPERD member for 21 years, Miller was inducted as a Research Consortium Fellow in 2005 and has served on the NASPE Sport Management Council and the Safety and Risk Management Council as well as Marketing and Promotion Committee for AAHPERD. He has also served on the NAPSE Sport Steering Committee as sport management chair since 2011. Over the years, Miller has worked closely with the state AHPERD, and as vice-president of Physical Education for New Mexico Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

“His coaching and administrative background helps him immensely in understanding the real issues and problems faced by practitioners in our field,” said Todd Seidler, professor of Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences at the University of New Mexico, who introduced Dr. Miller at the banquet. “This insight allows him to identify and carry out meaningful research that has a positive impact on sport.”

Dr. Miller earned his doctorate at the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in sport psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. 

TROY – Representatives of more than 24 universities will attend the ninth annual Sport Management Conference at Troy University Wednesday through Friday.

Hosted jointly by the University and the Southern Sport Management Association, the conference will focus on emerging scholars and student development, and more than 30 presenters will lecture, said Dr. Michael Martinez, an assistant professor of kinesiology and health promotion who is coordinating the conference.

“Our practitioner sessions will be looking into the current landscape of the sport industry, and our students will have the opportunity to talk with professionals in the field and recent graduates who are in the sport industry,” he said.

Academic presentations for regional faculty on topics of sport law, marketing, motorsports, organizational management and other areas are also scheduled.

In addition, the Association will honor two with its lifetime achievement awards: Ken Blankenship of the Central Alabama Sports Commission will be honored as a practitioner, and Dr. David Stotlar, University of Northern Colorado, will receive the lifetime scholar award.

Major sponsors for the conference include Troy University’s College of Health and Human Services, TROY Athletics and IMG College Sports.

2013_SSMC-Schedule.pdf

TROY – Dr. John Miller, Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Troy University, has been awarded a national organization’s highest prize.

The Sport and Recreation Law Association’s Betty van der Smissen Leadership Award is presented annually to recognize a membe  for leadership and vision in the study of legal aspects of sport and physical activity.

“Receipt of this award is often considered to be the crowning achievement of one’s career in the area of sport and recreation law,” said Dr. Damon Andrew, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “It is certainly fitting that Dr. Miller is recognized as a leader in his field.”

Dr. Miller currently serves as editor of the SRLA’s official scholarly journal, the “Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport,” the premier peer-reviewed journal of its kind and is among the most recognized international scholars in the area of risk management in sport.

Dr. John Miller

TROY – Troy University College of Health and Human Services students will be participating in the Central American Games in Costa Rica as part of a spring break study-abroad trip.

Three athletic training students will provide support to the games, which sets the stage for Central American nations’ Olympic teams, much in the same way the U.S. Nationals contribute to Olympic teams from the United States.

“This is an outstanding way for our students to get real-world experience, as well as share techniques we use in our country that are not in widespread practice in some other parts of the world,” said Dr. Amanda Benson, who chairs the department and will lead the athletic training team.

She and her students will work speed skating, men’s soccer, tae kwon do, fronton (handball), boxing, karate do and wrestling events March 12 – 13 in and near San Jose, Costa Rica.

They won’t be alone on the trip, however, five social work and rehabilitation students, and one sport management student, will also be on the trip.

The Social Work and Rehabilitation team, led by Dr. Denise Green, will present a workshop on the forensic interview of children, and assist in research and data collection at the Joint Social Welfare Institute, a government-run program that partners several organizations aimed at keeping children from poor homes in school.

The Sport Management team, led by faculty member Dr. Anthony Dixon, will focus on the Central American Games’ overall management.

All the students will participate in “cultural immersion” activities – including staying with host Costa Rican families – and visit several national points of interest.

“This is a chance for our students to both do meaningful academic work and gain exposure into life in Central America,” Benson said.

Sponsored by the University’s partner in Costa Rica, the Universidad de Iberoamerica, and partially funded by a Study Abroad Grant supported by faculty in the Social Work, Rehabilitation and Human Service Department, the students will depart on March 7 and return on March 15. All students and faculty received a portion of the grant to offset expenses.

Participating in the trip is:

• Monica Bates, a junior athletic training major from Wapakoneta, Ohio;
• Hannah Dunn, a junior athletic training major from Tallassee;
• Camille Forte, a sophomore athletic training major from Madison;
• Christina Brown, a junior rehabilitation major from Auburn;
• Haley Danner, a junior social work major from Ashford;
• Tandy Harvell, a junior social work major from Troy;
• JoAnna Hernandez, a senior social work major from Dothan;
• MaKayla Stone, a junior social work major from Opelika; and
• Stevon Douglas, a senior sport management eTroy student from Pembroke Pines, Fla.