BA Sport & Recreation Management

Program Details

• Live What You Learn

  • Hands-on learning opportunities in every course
  • Faculty-led experiences that guide you to achieve success, learn from disappointments, and become a personally and socially responsible professional
  • Internship or practicum experience that is designed for and contracted with each student

• Career Opportunities

  • Intercollegiate athletic administration
  • Municipal parks and recreation departments
  • Community sport programs
  • Professional and amateur sports and recreation organizations and commercial sports and recreation industries such as fitness and activity centers, sports camps, and other private sport and recreation organizations

Faculty

• Edward Royer

  Visiting Assistant Professor, Sport and Recreation Management
  Phone: 603.428.2542
  Email: eroyer@nec.edu

  Awards
  NEC Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award, 2020

  Educational Background
  JD, South Texas College of Law
  MS in Sport Management, University of Florida
  BA in Political Science, University of South Florida

  Research Interests

  • Legal issues in sports and recreation
  • Youth sports
  • Soccer
  • Sociological issues in sports

  Bio
  Edward Royer came to NEC after practicing law and holding various roles in sport administration for 15 years in Florida. Ed ran a successful law firm in Tampa, Florida, where he practiced at the State and Federal levels. After obtaining his Juris Doctorate and developing multiple successful law firms assisting clients around the world, in primarily a consumer advocate role, he returned to the University of Florida to obtain his MS in Sport Management. Ed worked closely with industry professionals and youth sport organizations to develop, implement, and train organizations and coaches on character literacy development in youth sports.

  His professional career outside of academia includes work as an attorney as well as a coaching role with the New England Revolution. He has applied this combination of practical and academic experience to a variety of consultancies in the sports industry throughout the country, relating to legal issues, facility management and development, program administration, and non-profit operations.

  In the soccer industry, Ed has served as a scout, a director for a nationally ranked youth club, and a head coach while winning coach of the year twice in Florida; worked with the AS Roma United States Academy team; and created coaching education and trained coaches. In addition to his current role as an academy staff coach with the New England Revolution, he currently serves as the Director of Player Development for the NEC Men’s Soccer team.

  Ed is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations, including non-profits like United Through Football and the Dreams Heard Foundation. He also serves as faculty advisor for the NEC Sport and Recreation Management student club and is actively engaged in event management roles at NEC. Outside of professional interests, he travels, reads, writes, and enjoys the outdoors while living in New Hampshire with his family.

• Matthew Ruckman

  Associate Professor, Sport and Recreation Management
  Office: John Lyons 214, Henniker Campus
  Phone: 603.428.2692
  Email: mruckman@nec.edu

  Expertise
  NCAA Rules Compliance—Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics

  Educational Background
  EdD in Physical Education and Health, University of West Florida
  MS in Recreation and Sport Science, Ohio University
  BS in Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science with concentration in Physical Education

  Research Interests

  • College Student-Athlete Welfare
  • Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Sport Management Pedagogy

  Bio
  Dr. Matthew Ruckman is a Sport and Recreation Management faculty member. During his tenure in higher education, Dr. Ruckman has specialized in the area of Sport Governance to include NCAA governance, policy development, and policy enforcement. He has participated in NCAA compliance reviews and made recommendations for best practices. In addition, he has spearheaded comprehensive assessments of gender equity in intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Ruckman is actively involved in a number of research and evaluation projects in the collegiate sport industry. He has authored publications on student-athlete welfare and gender equity in intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Ruckman’s current research focuses on student-athlete welfare topics including overall wellness and career preparation. Dr. Ruckman is also currently exploring fan satisfaction in the competitive collegiate sport environment. Finally, Dr. Ruckman also conducts evaluation projects for city parks and recreation systems. He has developed strategic plans for parks and recommended capital improvement projects.

Degree Requirements