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 – Dr. Kenneth Blankenship, executive director of the Central Alabama Sports Commission, has been awarded the Sport Management Lifetime Achievement Award by the Southern Sport Management Association at its conference at Troy University.

The award came on April 11 during the ninth annual Southern Sport Management Conference, and recognizes Blankenship for his significant contributions to the Sport Management industry.

A native of Wetumpka, Blankenship began his career as a coach, teacher and athletic director at schools in Macon County and Selma. He was one of the founders of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Scholarship Program, serving as its executive director for 20 years. He served as executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association from 1996 until 2004.  From 1992 until 1994, he served as Director of Athletics at TROY, successfully leading the University’s transition  from Division II to Division I athletics.

Dr. Blankenship completed his undergraduate and master’s programs at TROY, and completed a doctorate in educational administration and supervision from Auburn University.

The Association also honored Dr. David K. Stotlar, of the University of Northern Colorado, with its Sport Management Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award, during a special awards dinner on April 11.

Dr. Stotlar, who teaches sport management and sport marketing, has authored more than 90 professional journal articles and has written more than 50 textbooks and book chapters in the field. He was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee as a delegate to the International Olympic Academy in Greece and the World University Games Forum in Italy and has served as a venue media center supervisor for the 2002 Olympic Games. Additionally, he has conducted international seminars in sport management and marketing for numerous national and international Olympic meetings.

Among Dr. Stotlar’s contributions to the profession is his service as president of the National American Society for Sport Management, and was an initial NASSM Research Fellow. His a founding member of the Sport Marketing Association.

Three Troy University students also won accolades during the conference. Riley Montgomery, a graduate student from Montgomery, and Jessica Lynch, a graduate student from Oxford, Miss., took home a second-place award for their poster presentation entitled “Measuring the Sponsorship Effectiveness at a Mid-Major Conference Football Program.”  Santiago Pinzon, a graduate student from Colombia, earned second-place honors with his oral presentation entitled “An Exploration of the Impacts and Needs of Brand Identity Campaigns within Divisions of the NCAA.”

The Association recognized Dr. Colby Jubenville, a sport management faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University, and Dr. Ben Goss, an association professor of entertainment management at Missouri State University, with service awards.

The conference, which brought together students from more than 24 universities and professionals from throughout the region, concluded Friday, April 12. Sponsors for the conference included TROY’s College of Health and Human Services, Troy Athletics and IMG College.

Dr. Kenneth Blankenship, executive director of the Central Alabama Sports Commission, was presented the Southern Sport Management Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award by Dr. Fred Green, an associate professor of kinesiology and health promotion at TROY, during its ninth annual conference at Troy University. (TROY photo)

Dr. Kenneth Blankenship, executive director of the Central Alabama Sports Commission, provided comments to the Southern Sport Management Association’s annual conference as Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. listens. Blankenship received the association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to high school and university athletics. (TROY photo)

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