About
Dr. Steven Rynne serves as an Associate Professor and Program Convenor for Sports Coaching within the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at The University of Queensland, Australia. With over two decades of practical experience in junior and community sport settings, he brings substantial real-world expertise to his academic work as both a cycling coach and registered Health and Physical Education teacher.
Dr. Rynne holds a Bachelor (Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland. His academic journey has focused on understanding learning processes within sport contexts, establishing deep roots within the institution that continues to shape his research perspective.
The major theme throughout Dr. Rynne's work is learning in sport. His research portfolio demonstrates remarkable breadth and depth, with primary focus areas including the work of high performance coaches, coaching knowledge development, sport coaching environments as workplaces, and Indigenous sporting programs. Dr. Rynne has worked extensively with peak domestic and international sporting bodies to advance knowledge in these areas, particularly examining how elite coaches learn their craft and understanding outcomes for sport participants with special emphasis on sport for reconciliation.
Dr. Rynne's recent publications (2023-2025) show particular emphasis on Indigenous sport for reconciliation, coach development pathways, parenting in youth sport, and the intersection of sport with broader social justice issues. His work spans multiple methodologies including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches, with significant contributions to understanding sport as a site for reconciliation in settler-colonial contexts and examining traditional Indigenous games through pedagogical frameworks.
- Co-edited "The Routledge Handbook of Coach Development in Sport" (2024)
- Co-authored "Understanding sports coaching: The pedagogical, social and cultural foundations of coaching practice" (4th edition, 2023)
- Extensive research collaborations with Australian Sports Commission, Athletics Australia, and Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club
Dr. Rynne maintains active research collaborations with scholars including Clifford Mallett, Audrey Giles, Rochelle Stewart-Withers, and Jeremy Hapeta, indicating strong interdisciplinary connections particularly in Indigenous studies and sport for social change. His applied research has influenced sporting organizations and policy, with projects evaluating sport for development programs in Indigenous communities across Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
