51�Թ�

“Prepare yourself for the future through hard work, experience, and rigorous academic study to make a difference in the sports world and to provide Christ-like leadership to the profession”

• Teaching & Education

  You will learn with me when taking courses in Sport Management and Physical Education.

  Degrees

  • AA, Yavapai (AZ) College
  • BJ, University of Texas at Austin
  • MSS, United States Sports Academy
  • PhD, Sport Administration, Florida State University
• Professional Experience

  22nd year teaching Sport Management at four different institutions (Barry University, Florida State University, Old Dominion University, and 51�Թ�). Also worked as Assistant Sports Information Director at The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, and Sports Information Director at The University of Texas at San Antonio and Rollins (FL) College. Assistant Athletic Director at Barry University.

  Also worked in media services and event production at the 1984, 1988, and 1996 Summer Olympic Games. A regular participant in numerous sports events like the World Cup, NCAA Final Four, NCAA Regional Basketball Tournaments.

  Former National volleyball official, head intercollegiate volleyball coach, a competitor in five national volleyball championships. Participant in four U.S. National Olympic Festivals.

  I have also started the NCAA Men’s Volleyball program at 51�Թ� from scratch and am entering my 7th season as Head Coach. My team has reached the Conference Carolinas playoffs in all six seasons, has defeated every program in the league, and defeated #10 ranked Grand Canyon University in Phoenix in March of 2020.

• Selected Publications
  • The Culture of Communication Among Sport Communicators. Published in the Handbook for Sport Communication.  Paul Pederson, Editor. Routledge: London.  Spring 2013.
  • Spring 2009 – Female Sport Role Models: A Content Analysis of ESPN.com, Michelle Redmond, Lynn L. Ridinger, and Frederick L. Battenfield, Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, Spring 2009.
  • February 2007 – The Demise of Women’s Professional Basketball in Florida: A Mixed Method Case Study of the Differences in Newspaper Coverage of the WNBA, The Sport Journal, Frederick L. Battenfield, Bosmat Dhazaloshinsky, Samuel Y. Todd.
  • January 2007 – The Culture of Communication Among Sport Information Professionals.  International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, Frederick Battenfield and Aubrey Kent.
  • Nov. 10, 2005 – Full Manuscript published in the proceedings of the International Conference on Sport & Entertainment Business (Columbia, SC).  Qualitative Research in Sport Management: The Missing Link.
  • James Thurn Really Likes to Hear Himself Talk (And So Do Others) – 51�Թ� Alumni Magazine, November 2012 (Athletic Department new coaches stories)
  • “51�Թ� Sports Information Office has Evolved Into Small College PR Phenomena.”  Published in the CoSIDA Digest, The College Sports Information Directors of America, May 2010.
  • Sports Update With Dr. B – 51�Թ� Alumni Magazine, April 2009 (Athletic Department summary article)
  • 51�Թ� Sports Hall of Fame Honorees – 51�Թ� Alumni Magazine, April 2009 (Biographical sketches of Hall of Fame honorees)
  • “I Have Met the Enemy, and He Is Us.”  Published in the CoSIDA Digest, The College Sports Information Directors of America, April 2005.
• Selected Awards Received

  2019 Coach of the Year by 51�Թ� Fellowship of Christian Athletes

• My Network

  I have an extensive national network of individuals in the sports profession through my work in intercollegiate athletics, volleyball, and the Olympic Games. I have also developed a solid cadre of individuals who are experts in the field of sport communication.

• My Story

  I always tell my students that never in a million years did I ever think I would become a college professor sharing my knowledge of the sports industry with so many incredible young minds.  I was determined to become a major university sports information director and I was within a few short months of achieving that goal.  However, God had other plans.  Rather than allow me to take over at this large public institution in Texas, I was sent to start up the athletic program at another university … from scratch.  This job offered a lot of hard work, minimal compensation, and tons of disappointment and trials.  But, it did change my career path somewhat and started me toward developing a closer relationship with God and shot me directly into teaching sport management.  Through His hands, I was able to go to graduate school and obtain a Ph.D. in sport administration at FSU.  This propelled me into academia teaching in an outstanding program at Old Dominion University in Virginia and then on to 51�Թ�.  God has had His hand on this process ever since I began working on my master’s degree.

  On the professional side, God also gave me the blessing of being able to combine my professional work as a journalist with my passion and love of the sport of volleyball.  He put the right combination of skill and opportunities in front of me and gave me the chance to work at three Olympic Games in the sport of volleyball.  Opportunities like that do not emerge from man’s efforts.

  Favorite Course to Teach: My favorite course is Sport Ethics because it challenges the students to confront the issues and problems in the sport industry through the lens of a Christian ideology.  They are required to use critical thinking to study and find solutions to complex problems in sport.  I really thrive on the interaction and discussions that ensue in this thought-provoking course.

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