معرفی
Hayden Coombs serves as Assistant Professor of Communication and Sports Management at Southern Utah University's Department of Communication, a position he has held since May 2022 after completing his PhD. He directs the Sports Media Certificate program and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Utah Journal of Communication, where he oversees the double-blind peer review process and publication distribution.
Dr. Coombs earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a specialization in Sport & Athletic Management from Northcentral University in December 2022 (4.0 GPA), with a dissertation titled 'The Complex Identities of International Student-Athletes in the NCAA: An Exploratory Case Study.' His academic journey includes a Master of Arts in Professional Communications from Southern Utah University (April 2016, 4.0 GPA) and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Communication Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho (December 2014, 3.8 GPA), where he received the Gordon B. Hinckley Communicator Award as top graduating communication student.
His research expertise spans sports communication, sports management, communication accommodation strategies, international student-athletes, rhetorical analysis of sports media, crisis communication in athletic contexts, media ethics, and sports broadcasting. Dr. Coombs teaches a comprehensive range of courses including Writing for Communication, Introduction to Sports Communication, Sports Broadcasting, Sports Public Relations, Sports Branding & Advertising, Issues & Ethics in Sports, Media Law & Ethics, and Sport Management & Communication.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on sports management communication dynamics, with significant contributions to the Encyclopedia of Sport Management across diverse topics from FOMO and health communication to cartel structures and salary caps in sports. His work consistently examines how communication functions within sports organizations and among diverse stakeholders.
- Fall 2014 Gordon B. Hinckley Communicator Award Recipient (Top graduating communication student)
As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Coombs has chaired numerous theses and capstone projects on topics including media coverage of sports teams, framing in NBA coverage, parasocial interactions with public figures, rhetorical analysis of religious texts, and student-athlete experiences. His academic service includes serving on Recruiting & Retention Committee, Curriculum Development Committee, and Student-Athlete Wellness Committee.
