Dr. Coakley made significant contributions to the academic community through his research and publications.
FORT COLLINS, CO, August 21, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Jay Coakley, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Coakley is a distinguished expert in the sociology of sport focusing on the relationships between sport, culture, and society. In this role, he is focused on completing the 14th edition of his influential textbook, “Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies.” This seminal work has established his credibility within multiple disciplinary fields and fostered connections with sports organizations across the United States and worldwide. The book addresses critical research findings encompassing athlete development, training programs and competition, as well as pertinent issues such as gender dynamics, racial and social class disparities, deviance, abuse, and violence, and the unique challenges student-athletes face. The text has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Turkish, and he has collaborated with many professionals internationally on regionally-relevant adaptations of the work.
Dr. Coakley was a professor at the University of Colorado from 1972 to 2005, when he was honored with an emeritus title. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the academic community through his research and publications. His dedication to the field of sociology of sport is further exemplified by his role as editor of the Sociology of Sport Journal.
Dr. Coakley’s expertise has been recognized through various leadership positions, including past president of both the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport and the Sociology of Sport Academy in the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. His contributions have additionally been recognized with numerous awards, such as being named by the Institute for International Sport one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America in 2007 and being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education in 2009. He is also an honorary fellow of the International Sociology of Sport Association and at the University of Chichester where he also served as a visiting Professor in 1985-6. He has lectured widely in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, Slovenia, and Croatia.
Dr. Coakley’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in 1966 from Regis University where he was awarded a basketball scholarship. He then pursued graduate studies in sociology at the University of Notre Dame, earning a Master of Arts in 1970 and a doctorate in 1972. In addition to his formal education, he attributes his success to his innate curiosity, which has driven him to explore and address complex issues within society and sport cultures.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Coakley is actively involved in civic organizations, primarily through volunteering with Special Olympics Colorado for 12 years and with multiple National Sport Federations at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. In his personal life, he enjoys playing various sports, such as basketball, golf, tennis, ice skating and hockey. He also engages in outdoor activities like skiing, paddle boarding, canoeing and whitewater rafting. His major goal has been to make sports more accessible, humane, democratic, and participant-centered for people of all ages and abilities.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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