Assistant Professor in Sport Leadership

Job Description

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky invites applications for a Regular Title, tenure-eligible Assistant Professor position, with a focus in Sport Leadership. This will be a nine-month appointment effective August 15, 2026.

The successful candidate will possess an earned doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in Sport Leadership/Management/Administration, or a very closely related field. We seek candidates who maintain a well-defined research agenda and demonstrate the ability to conduct (and publish) research aimed at peer-reviewed sport management journals and/or related fields. Applicants should also possess a track record of (or show a capability of) delivering engaging and effective classroom experiences for students. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses in various areas of sport leadership and management. We are particularly interested in candidates who possess the ability to teach existing research methods courses and develop new courses related to analytics. Other potential courses include Sport Facility and Event Management, Sport Leadership & Ethics, Risk Management and Legal Issues in Sport, and Sales, Sponsorship, and Fundraising in Sport.

This position is in the Regular Title Series faculty category, which typically requires the faculty member to teach a 2/2 load (12 credit hours per year) over the fall and spring semesters. Candidates should also demonstrate the ability to provide service to the university and the field. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to serve on graduate student thesis and exam committees.

Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion
The Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion (KHP), housed in the College of Education, comprises 26 full-time faculty members and offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in the academic areas of exercise science, physical education, health promotion, and sport leadership. KHP serves as the educational focus for more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students, including the B.A.E. in Sport Leadership, M.S. specialization in Sport Leadership, and a graduate certificate in Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Management.

Future of Sport Institute (FoSI)
Housed within KHP, the Future of Sport Institute (FoSI) exists to reimagine the future of sport, accelerating innovation that transforms how sport is played, experienced, and led. The Institute aims to solve real-world challenges across the sports ecosystem by uniting academic rigor, insights from athletes and fans, creativity, and cross-sector collaboration. The incoming faculty member will have the opportunity to contribute to FoSI's mission.

Applications
Interested applicants should submit a UK Online Application at www.uky.edu/ukjobs. Applicants should include:

• A detailed cover letter noting academic credentials and professional experiences related to the responsibilities for this position;


• a curriculum vita (upload under Curriculum Vita);


• copies of student evaluations of the candidate's teaching, if applicable (upload under Specific Request 1);


• a combined research, teaching, and service statement that does not exceed 3 pages (upload under Specific Request 2);


• detailed contact information for three or more professional references that can speak to the applicant's qualifications (upload under Specific Request 3). References will be contacted for finalists.


• Transcripts will be required of all finalists for the position.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Kwame Agyemang, at kwame.agyemang@uky.edu. Review of applications will begin October 12, 2025, and continue until the position is filled.

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees' retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

For relevant information about the KHP Department, visit the following websites: University of Kentucky (http://www.uky.edu/); College of Education (http://education.uky.edu/); Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion (http://education.uky.edu/KHP/)

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
The successful candidate will possess an earned Ph.D. in Sport Management, Sport Leadership, or a very closely related field, by the start date in August 2026. Applicants who have a robust research agenda and demonstrated successful teaching experience at the university undergraduate and graduate level will be looked upon favorably.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?: No

Preferred Education/Experience
Successful teaching experience at the university graduate level, for example:
demonstrated effectiveness in designing and delivering undergraduate and graduate-level courses in sport leadership or management
strong student evaluations
supervision of research or applied projects
incorporation of industry-relevant practices or case studies
Open Until Filled
Yes

Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from minorities and women.