Dr. Chris Croft
Associate Professor
Bio
Dr. Chris Croft is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management and serves as the Sport Management Program and Graduate Coordinator. Croft has been in higher education and intercollegiate athletics for over twenty-five years as a coach, administrator, and professor and is a two-time graduate of the University of 51¶ºÄÌ Mississippi. He has been a member of college basketball staffs in the Big 12 Conference, PAC 10 Conference, Big Ten Conference, and Conference USA. He is an ACUE Credentialed Educator and Distinguished Teaching Scholar who has incorporated experiential learning projects in his classes with 51¶ºÄÌ Miss Athletics, New Orleans Pelicans, Birmingham Squadron, Biloxi Shuckers, Mississippi Braves, Mississippi Seawolves, and NCS4. Croft has been a recipient of the College of Businesses and Economic Development (CBED) BAC Research Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and was the Faculty Senate Junior Research Award recipient in 2023.
- EDD - University of Texas at El Paso (2008)
- MS - University of 51¶ºÄÌ Mississippi (1996)
- BS - University of 51¶ºÄÌ Mississippi (1995)
Introduction to Sport Marketing
Sport Facility and Event Management
Sport Economics
Issues in Sport Administration
Sport Marketing & Public Relations
Socio-ethical Issues in Sport
Sport Venue and Event Management
Introduction to Sport Security Management
Risk Assessment of Sport Venues
Practicum
Special Problems in Sport Management
Independent Study and Research
- Hospitality and Tourism Experiential Learning Combined with Interdisciplinary Learning, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 2023,
- Team Identification and Perceptions of College Athletes, Sports Innovation Journal, 2023,
- The Player Makes the Coach: Exploring Player Development among Division I Basketball Coaches, International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 2023,
- The Influence of University Recreation Centers on Student Return and Retention During COVID-19, Recreational Sports Journal, 2022,
- Fighting for Legitimacy: The Impact of Football and Stadia at the University of 51¶ºÄÌ Mississippi, Journal of Mississippi History, 2022
- Athlete Identity and Mental Health Among NCAA Division III Student-athletes, Journal of Athlete Development and Experience, 2022,
- The Application of the Theory of Social Influence on the Recruitment of Division I Male Basketball Players, Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 2022,
- Birds of a Feather Don’t Flock Together: Institutional Athletics Rebranding at the University of 51¶ºÄÌ Mississippi, Journal of Managerial Issues, 2021,
- Promoting Intercollegiate Beach Volleyball: The Rise of the NCAA’s Fastest Growing Sport, Journal of Managerial Issues, 2021,
- Implementing Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory into Men’s Collegiate Basketball Sports Marketing, Sport Management Education Journal, 2021,
- North American Society for Sport Management
- Basketball New Zealand
- English