Cedric English

Dr. Cedric English is an Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University's School of Applied Sciences, where he serves as Programme Leader for the BSc Developing Athletes through Professional Practice and the BSc Football Coaching, Performance, and Development. With over 25 years of practical coaching experience across the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, and Scotland, he brings extensive real-world expertise to his academic work, currently serving as Lead International Youth Coach for Scottish U17's, 18's, and 19's cricket teams.

Dr. English's educational background includes a PhD in South African Cricket Development Pathway Environments (2017) and a PgCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2015), for which he became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

His research focuses on effective coaching practice and evidence-based coach development across elite, elite development, and participation levels. Key interests include talent development environments, sports organizational culture, leadership in sports, and strategic performance management. His work bridges academic theory with practical application through collaborations with major sports organizations including Scottish Football Association, Scottish Rugby, Cricket Scotland, and UK Sport.

Analysis of Dr. English's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on talent development pathways across multiple sports contexts. His research spans cricket, rugby, and football with particular emphasis on cultural transitions in sports, psychological factors in athlete development, and structural elements supporting effective talent identification and nurturing. The work demonstrates strong methodological diversity including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.

As an academic supervisor, Dr. English currently directs or co-supervises six postgraduate research projects while having previously guided several doctoral and master's students to completion. His research is well-funded, with recent projects totaling over £50,000 from organizations including Sportscotland, Scottish Football Association, and professional football clubs. Current projects include 'Developing Effective Talent Pathways Using a TDEQ Framework' and 'Performance Analysis in Football: Understanding the set piece'.