David J Kelley

Dr. David J. Kelley is a full Professor in the Sport Administration Program within the University of Cincinnati’s School of Human Services and currently serves as the Online Master’s Degree (MSSA) in Sport Administration Program Coordinator.  Dr. Kelley spent over a decade as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator in the Vinton County Local Schools in McArthur, Ohio and holds a Ph.D. from Ohio University.  Dr. Kelley received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from St. Bonaventure University and his Master’s Degree from Syracuse University where he served as the Graduate Manager under Naismith Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim.  Dr. Kelley is also a Certified Master Athletic Administrator with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and has presented multiple workshop presentations on revenue generation strategies relative to grant writing, corporate sponsorships and the merits of licensed merchandise at the interscholastic level at the National Athletic Director’s Conference held annually in December.  Dr. Kelley is the innovator of online education specifically designed for aspiring as well as working interscholastic athletic administrators in partnership with the NIAAA Leadership Training Institute Certification Program. Dr. Kelley teaches undergraduate Sport Finance and Development and the Economics of Sport. Dr. Kelley teaches graduate-level Applied Financial Management Strategies in Athletics.  He is the author of Sports Fundraising: Dynamic Methods for Schools, Universities and Youth Sport Organizations, published by Routledge in 2012. He is also the author of  Internship Playbook: Skills and Strategies for Sport Industry Success  published by the University of Cincinnati Press in 2026. Dr. Kelley is a Class of 2026 inductee of the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame.

Ph.D.: Ohio University 2002 (Higher Education/Sports Administration)

M.S.: Syracuse University 1992 (Physical Education)

B.S.: St. Bonaventure University 1990 (Physical Education)

09-2009 -05-2013 Annual Adjunct Professor- Sport Administration, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

01-2004 -01-2006 Adjunct Professor-Sport Management Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

1993 -2003 Health and Physical Education Teacher/Junior High Director of Athletics and High School Assistant Director of Athletics, Vinton County Junior High School , Allensville, OH

10-2007 -09-2009 Fraud Analytics & Technology Department, Macy’s Inc., Mason, Ohio

05-2006 -08-2007 Project Manager-Sports Image Inc., Ohio & New York State Project Manager for Sports Image Inc. ,

08-2013 -07-2023 Associate Professor-Field Service & Graduate Coordinator MS Online, Sport Administration, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, School of Human Services

08-2023 -To Present Professor Sport Administration and Online Master's Degree Program Coordinator, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Peer Reviewed Publications

Kelley, D.J. & Simmons, J.M. (2018).  (2018). Today’s Intern, Tomorrow’s Athletic Administrator. Interscholastic Athletic Administration, 44 (4) , 12 -14

Kelley, D.J. (2016).  (2016). Sports Fundraising and gender equity: Clearing up the confusion. . High School Today, 9 (7) , 22-23

Kelley, D.J. (2016).  (2016). Grant Writing: Is it a feasible option for the contemporary interscholastic athletic director?. High School Today, 9 (8) , 16-17

Other Publications

Kelley, D.J. Fundraising Challenges within Education Based Athletics: A Mission-centered Approach .Interscholastic Athletic Administration.,

Kelley, D. J. (11-24-2003) Consider Life Skills a Curriculum Option .NCAA News, 40 (24 ) ,4-17

Kelley, D. J. (2002) NIAAA Member Interest Survey Promising. In K. Vogt’s (Ed.), leadership Training Program concludes another successful year .Interscholastic Athletic Administration, 28 (3 ) ,

Kelley, D. J. (12-2000) Sponsors Pay So Students Can Play. .Sports Business Journal, 3 (34 ) ,51

The Knowledgeable Leader. In: The DNA of an AD-Athletic Director – Garvis, S.M. (1st Ed.) Bound Publishing April 2022 (2022) The DNA of an AD-Athletic Director-Bound Publishing, April 2022 .The DNA of an AD-Athletic Director, Bound Publishing

Kelley, D.J (May 2021) (2021) Fundraising Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Getting Creative in the Short and Long Term .Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, 90 (3 ) ,24-25 Coach and Athletic Director

David J. Kelley Ph.D., CMAA (2025) Winning Partnerships: How St. Vincent-St. Mary and Wooster HS scored big with corporate sponsorships. .Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, 94 (5 ) ,40-44 Coach and Athletic Director Magazine

David J. Kelley Ph.D., CMAA (2025) Hitting Paydirt: How high school naming rights drive innovation and community engagement .Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, 94 (6 ) ,24-27 Coach and Athletic Director Magazine

Facility naming rights drive innovation and community engagement

David J. Kelley Ph.D., CMAA (2025) Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow: The power of mentorship and the value of interns .Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, 95 (2 ) , 44-46 Coach and Athletic Director Magazine

The power of mentorship and the value of interns

David J. Kelley Ph.D., CMAA (2026) The Economics of Friday Night Lights: How football revenue impacts overall athletic department finances .Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, Coach and Athletic Director Magazine

The Economics of Friday Night Lights: How football revenue impacts overall athletic department finances

David J. Kelley Ph.D. CMAA (2025) Bridging the Gap: How to enhance public school fundraising for athletics. .Coach and Athletic Director Magazine, 95 (1 ) ,32-35 Coach and Athletic Director Magazine

Bridging the Gap: How to enhance public school fundraising for athletics.

Published Books

David J Kelley (05-2012). Sports Fundraising: Dynamic Methods for Schools and Universities and Youth Sport Organizations,. Routledge Publishing Inc. (ISBN-10: 0415507197).

David J. Kelley Ph.D. (2026). Internship Playbook: Skills and Strategies for Sport Industry Success. Cincinnati Ohio, University of Cincinnati Press. (Author)

Book Chapter

Michael Odio and David Kelley (2025). Mastering Finance and Fundraising: A Hands-On Approach with Grant Proposals. In Innovative Pedagogical Practices in Sport Management Education. (pp. 1-14). USA, World Scientific Publishing Company (Co-Author)

Invited Presentations

David J. Kelley Ph.D., CAA (05-20-2020. ) The A.D.'s Financial Interests .Zoom Webinar at the AHSAAA (Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association) Summer Athletic Directors Conference , Arkansas. Conference. . Level:State

Kelley, D.J., Shea, R. (2020). (05-13-2020. ) Generating New Ideas and Sources of Revenue .Workshop Presentation at the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) Summer Workshop Series via Zoom Webinar, Indianapolis, IN. Level:National

Kelley, D.J., Shea, R. (2019). (12-14-2019. ) Generating New Ideas and Sources of Revenue .Workshop Presentation at the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) National Athletic Director’s Conference; December 13-17th, 2019 in National Harbor Maryland. , National Harbor, Maryland. Level:National

David J. Kelley Ph.D. (06-17-2024. ) Supplementing the Interscholastic Athletic Budget: Revenue generation & the need for fundraising diversification. Downstream Casino and Conference Center, Quapaw, Oklahoma. Conference. . Level:Regional

1998 Vinton County Junior High School Gym Floor Replacement Project Secured $20,000 from United States Congressman Ted Strickland, State Senator Mike Shoemaker and State Representative Joe Sulzer to replace the Junior High Gymnasium floor, Allensville, OH Status:Recipient Level:State Type:Grant

1999 -2001 Vinton County/Ohio University Sports Career Day Secured $2,000 from the Vinton County School-to-Work Fund for 7th grade students to have opportunities to interact with and learn about careers from Ohio University Athletic Department administrators, coaches and Sports Administration & Facility Management Graduate Students. Status:Recipient Level:State Type:Grant

2002 General Mills Physical Education Equipment Grant Secured $10,000 from the General Mills Company to purchase a Four-Station Weight Machine and Stationary Bicycles in order to improve the physical fitness of students in the Vinton County Junior High School. Status:Recipient Level:State Type:Grant

2018 -2019 University of Cincinnati School of Human Services Distinguished Service Award Awarded the School of Human Services Distinguished Service award for the 2018-19 school year. Type:Recognition

2018 -2019 Distinguished Service Award School of Human Services Distinguished Service 2018-2019 CECH University of Cincinnati CECH Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

-2026 Ohio Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Dr. Dave Kelley, Professor in the Sport Administration program at the University of Cincinnati, has been a pioneering educator and mentor in the field of sports leadership and management. With a Ph.D. in Higher Education/Sports Administration from Ohio University, a Master’s degree from Syracuse University—where he served as Graduate Manager under Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim—and a Bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University, Dr. Kelley brings a rich academic and practical foundation to his work. Over the course of his career, Dr. Kelley has taught and mentored hundreds of interscholastic Assistant Athletic Directors and Directors of Athletics, with alumni serving in leadership roles across Ohio and as far east as New Hampshire and west as Hawaii. His innovative approach to sport education, particularly through the development of online programs in partnership with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association or NIAAA, has expanded access and opportunity for aspiring athletic administrators nationwide. Dr. Kelley’s induction into the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 recognizes not only his academic contributions, but also his profound and lasting impact on the sports industry through the careers he has helped shape and the lives he has inspired. The Ohio Sports Hall of Fame Status:Recipient Level:State

Online Master’s Program Coordinator University Coordinator Type:Departmental Service Level:Department 2017

-2025 National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA), Awarded for continued professional growth for the benefit of students and exemplary leadership in the field of interscholastic athletic administration, National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, , Indianapolis Indiana

2012 -To Present: Member National Association of Athletic Development Directors,

2010 -To Present: Member National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association,

2008 -To Present: Member National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics,

2000 -To Present: Member North American Society for Sport Management,

1993 -2003: American Heart Association Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Coordinator,

1993 -2003: Ohio Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance,

Introduction to Sport Administration (Fall, Spring)

Economics of Sport- (Fall, Spring)

Sport Finance and Development (Fall, Spring)

Sport Management (Fall)

Sport Finance (Fall, Spring & Summer)

Athletic Fundraising (Winter, Spring)

Sport Facility and Event Management (Fall)

Applied Statistics for Human Services I (Fall, Winter)

Kelley CV