Sport & Athletic Management: Foundations, Strategy, and the Future of Sport Hardcover – January 29, 2026

Sport & Athletic Management: Foundations, Strategy, and the Future of Sport is a comprehensive and contemporary introduction to the business, governance, and leadership of sport organizations. Written exclusively for Dr. Hayden Coombs’ sport management courses at Brigham Young University–Idaho, this text is designed to align directly with course objectives while preparing students for careers in sport and athletic administration.Organized into six clearly structured sections, the book guides readers from foundational concepts to future focused challenges. Early chapters explore why sport matters culturally, socially, and economically, and what makes sport a unique industry. The text then examines governance, ethics, policy, and legal issues that shape accountability and decision making across professional, intercollegiate, and global sport. Additional sections address sport economics and finance, athlete labor and welfare, communication and branding, and the operational realities of managing events, facilities, and organizations.Throughout the book, students engage with timely and relevant topics including Name, Image, and Likeness, athlete mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion, digital media, analytics, globalization, and emerging sport technologies. The final chapters emphasize leadership development, career pathways, and strategic thinking, preparing students to navigate an evolving sport industry with integrity and adaptability.Written in an accessible, textbook style with an emphasis on real world application, ethical leadership, and critical thinking, this book serves as both a core course text and a practical resource. Read more