"Assistant/Associate Professor, Sport Management - Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism"

Assistant/Associate Professor, Sport Management

Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism

College of Applied Health Sciences

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Job Summary

The Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism (RST) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a nine-month (paid over 12 months), tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position in Sport Management. We seek candidates with a strong, well-defined research agenda in sport management who have the ability to teach sport management courses and other courses in the RST core. This position builds on the Department's interdisciplinary strengths in community and organizational development; health and well-being; sustainable change; and inclusivity and accessibility. The start date for this position will be August 16, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Conducting research in aspects of sport management (broadly defined).
• Building collaborative research partnerships with colleagues within the department, college and various disciplines across campus.
• Advising and directing student research including theses and dissertations.
• Instructing undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Contributing to the department's curriculum.
• Seeking and securing external funding for research.
• Serving on department, college, and university committees.
• Engaging in professional and public service activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in sport management or an affiliated field at the time of appointment.
• Evidence of, or demonstrated potential for, a strong publication record in top-tier peer-reviewed scholarly journals in sport management or affiliated fields.
• Evidence of, or demonstrated potential for, the ability to secure external research funding.
• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses within the RST Department.
• Ability to mentor doctoral and master's students.
• Ability to contribute to the university and the recreation, sport and tourism field(s) through academic, industry, and/or public service/engagement.

The Department: Faculty and staff of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism (RST) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign work to advance knowledge to foster healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship and sustainability, effective management and marketing of organizations, and social and economic development of communities (see www.rst.illinois.edu for additional information). The department offers residential B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs, and an online M.S. program. It also houses the Office of Park and Recreation Resources.

The College: The RST Department is part of the College of Applied Health Sciences (see http://ahs.illinois.edu) and affiliated with the Center for Health, Aging, and Disability (see https://ahs.illinois.edu/research-and-community/center-on-health-aging-and-disability). The College houses the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (http://www.disability.illinois.edu) (DRES), which includes the U.S. Paralympic Training Site for Wheelchair Track Racing. The College also houses the Chez Veterans Center (https://ahs.illinois.edu/chez-veterans-center), which opened in 2015 to provide support services to empower student veterans, military-connected members, and their families.

The Community: Urbana-Champaign (located 135 miles south of Chicago) combines natural Midwestern beauty with the cultural resources typically found in larger metropolitan areas. Three downtown areas (Urbana, Champaign, and Campus town) provide vibrant public spaces with unique dining and entertainment options and the local community offers a thriving arts and culture atmosphere as well as varsity and community sports. Urbana-Champaign was rated #1 by Midwest Living magazine for the greatest food for a city with less than 750,000 population. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy 80 parks within the two communities with easy access to several large forest preserves and the Kickapoo Rail Trails in Champaign County (see www.visitchampaigncounty.org for additional information).

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic position, with a 9-month service basis, paid over 12-months. The expected start date is 8/16/2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $70,000-$90,000 at the Assistant Professor level, $80,000-$100,000 at the Associate Professor level. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

For full consideration, please submit all required materials by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on November 3rd, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Applications materials should include the following: (1) your letter of application that includes a statement of your research agenda and explains how you meet the qualifications outlined above, (2) your curriculum vitae, and (3) names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references. All requested information must be submitted for your application to be considered.

For further information about this specific position, please contact Yuhei Inoue, Search Committee Chair, inouey@illinois.edu, (217)300-9865 or ahs-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.