PHILADELPHIA — The Sport Industry Research Center (SIRC) at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) has been selected as an inaugural partner in the Million Coaches Challenge’s Empower Every Coach (EEC) cohort.
EEC is a national effort designed to dismantle system barriers to quality youth coaching across the United States. Ten organizations have been tasked with finding ways to advance systems-level change in youth sports through policy, research, narrative change and organizational practice.
“We will be comprehensively reviewing existing strategies utilized to raise public tax revenue for youth sports, along with the accompanying appropriation, implementation, and compliance frameworks that incentivize best practices,” said Gareth Jones, associate professor at STHM and SIRC director.
In addition to Jones, associate professors Bradley Baker and George Diemer of STHM and Michael Leeds, an economics professor at Temple’s College of Liberal Arts, will be assistingin the effort.
“We are excited to tackle this timely and complex topic with an interdisciplinary team that brings expertise from fields of youth development, economics, finance, law, and policy,”said Jones.
The selected organizations represent leaders across research, policy, public health, coach education and youth development. Over the next 18 months, the cohort will participate in a collaborative learning community while advancing projects aligned with the Million Coaches Challenge’s Calls to Action — a field-wide roadmap released in 2025 to strengthen quality coaching in America.
“STHM is proud to be both a committed community partner in Philadelphia and a contributor to important national conversations about the future and potential of youth sport,” said Amy Giddings, associate dean at STHM. “This work demonstrates how our faculty translate rigorous research into practical strategies that strengthen organizations, support coaches and expand access to positive sport experiences for young people across the country.”
Learn more about STHM’s Sport Industry Research Center here.
About the Sport Industry Research Center at the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management
The Sport Industry Research Center at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management serves as a research hub connecting academia and industry through research, thought leadership and knowledge translation that informs practice and drives innovation in sport. By leveraging the expertise of globally recognized faculty, SIRC provides data-driven insights that help organizations and individuals make strategic decisions and achieve their goals.
About Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management
Established in 1998, Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) has a distinguished tradition of preparing leaders in the sport, recreation, hospitality, tourism and event industries. STHM is the largest provider of sport, recreation, hospitality, tourism and event education in the Greater Philadelphia region and an international model for innovative teaching and research. Committed to student-centered education and individualized professional development, STHM has an award-winning faculty, world-class programs and cutting-edge research institutes to provide students with the knowledge and skills to succeed. Our curriculum integrates applicable, real-world experiences beyond the classroom through our global industry partners and prestigious alumni network.
We offer traditional undergraduate degree programs in sport and entertainment management, tourism, hospitality and event management, and a transfer-friendly multidisciplinary degree in sport, tourism, hospitality and event management in addition to a traditional graduate degree program in sport business with concentrations in athletic administration, recreation and event management, sport analytics and sport marketing and promotions. The school also offers a PhD in business administration with a concentration in tourism and sport. Uniquely positioned in Philadelphia—one of the nation’s most prominent centers for these industries—STHM provides students with exceptional opportunities to apply what they learn.