Johnny Smith

Johnny Smith is the Julius C. 'Bud' Shaw Professor of Sports History and Associate Professor of History at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of History and Sociology, within the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. He specializes in 20th-century U.S. history, focusing on sports history, popular culture, African American history, and war-society relationships. His six authored/co-authored books include Jumpman: The Making and Meaning of Michael Jordan (2023) and The Fight of His Life (2025).

Education: Ph.D., Purdue University (2011); M.A., Western Michigan (2006); B.A., Michigan State (2004).

Research interests span sports as cultural barometers, race relations, and political history. His work appears in Smithsonian Magazine, Washington Post, and academic journals.

Awards include the North American Society for Sport History Book Award and multiple teaching accolades, including Georgia Tech's Class of 1934 Excellence Award (2020).

No formal student advisees listed, but his books reflect collaborative research with co-author Randy Roberts. Active in public history through documentaries like Blood Brothers (Netflix, 2021).