Asst/Assoc Professor, Sport Management - Department of Recreation, Sport, & 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, 2027.

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

• PhD 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 in the department’s core subject areas, such as marketing, management, and research methods.
• Ability to mentor doctoral and master’s students, as well as undergraduate 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 online M.S. programs. 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 Campustown) 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 August 16, 2027. The budgeted salary range for the position is $75,000 to $95,000 at the Assistant Professor level, $85,000 to $110,000 at the Associate Professor level. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on November 4, 2026. 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.

Application 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 and contact information for three references. Candidates will be notified before references are contacted and letters requested.

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.

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1038534
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu