College of Education hosting Sweden Sports Science senior professor

On Nov. 3- 8, the WSU College of Education's sport management program is hosting Jørgen Kjær, a Danish senior professor in the sports science department at Linnaeus University in Sweden.

Kjær is a practitioner and scholar in coaching education and will share his experience and work, providing sport management students and faculty an international perspective in the development of effective sport coaches.

His latest project was as guest editor for a special issue on the professionalization of sports coaching from a Scandinavian perspective, which will be published by Sport in Society this fall.

WSU sport management professor Pete Van Mullem said Kjær's work in coaching education addresses two current issues facing coaches internationally.

"First, the recognition of coaching as a profession, with specific requirement and training like other professional fields," he said. "Second, the progression of a coach's career, specifically with elite national team coaches."

Kjær has worked in sport as a coach and in management roles both in the USA and internationally. Van Mullem said the language and practice of sport is universal, yet how sport is managed varies around the globe.

"Dr. Kjær offers a comparison perspective on the management of sport and coaching internationally and can engage with students on professional opportunities in sport outside the US."

Kjær holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Sociology of Sport from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as a master's degree from George Washington University. He earned his Ph.D. from George Mason University.

Kjær served as the head coach of the boys' soccer team at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., for 15 years and was part of the athletic department's administrative team, at one point serving as acting athletic director.

Kjær is currently launching a new project aimed at investigating the backgrounds of elite national team coaches and exploring how the journey to the national team is experienced by Swedish elite coaches. The study specifically focuses on the similarities and differences in the experiences of female and male coaches.