Eric Street, Ed.D, MBA

About Eric

I was born in Corbin, KY which is where I also attended high school and developed my love for sports more specifically football (soccer). I was coached by my dad through our youth league system. When I arrived as a freshman in high school, I played on a team that was competitive for this area, but not anywhere near what you would see in other countries or the academy system internationally. I have always played in midfield or the “10” position my entire playing career. I was good enough to receive a scholarship to play at nearby NAIA powerhouse Union College. I played there two years where I was immersed in a diverse team with representatives from all over the world including Brazil, Croatia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Liberia and Lebanon among others. I spent most of my time in the “10” position albeit in a reserve role in college and had the opportunity to play overseas in Brazil for our summer training camp. After being a reserve for two seasons I decided to pursue a more rigorous academic preparation and transferred to the University of Kentucky. With my playing days behind me I developed a love for weight training and Esports to fill the void football had left in my life. I also switched my major to Kinesiology with a minor in business. Upon graduation I worked in the field of advertising and medical device sales for about 13 years. During that time, I also went back to complete a master’s degree in Sports Management at the University of Kentucky.

I began teaching for the first time at Midway University after receiving my master’s degree that next year and really enjoyed it. In 2014 I also had the opportunity to teach a night class at my Alma Mater, University of Kentucky. I had two stints with the University of Kentucky in 2014 and 2023. The experience teaching at UK in 2014 and working with students solidified my decision to seek my doctorate. In 2015 I was accepted and decided to pursue my MBA and Doctorate in Sports Management concurrently. I had transitioned out of full time Medical Sales by this time and began working as Director of Training and Master Trainer at LA Fitness, a position I held from 2016-2023. Additionally, I returned to Midway University only this time teaching a bigger course load, which also included student advising and curriculum development. Since returning to Midway University in 2016, I have taught nearly every single undergraduate course offered in the Sports Management and General Management Program. Additionally, I have taught several courses in the MBA Program (Sport Management option) at Midway University and was acting Department Chair for the 2017-2018 school year. I have also been the Assistant Esports Coach since 2020.

In 2017 I traveled overseas and taught Sport Marketing in Dubai, UAE to executives in their professional football system. During my time abroad I consulted the club’s marketing professionals on ways to improve their club’s branding and marketing. Some of the top Division 1 UAE soccer clubs from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah represented included; AL Dharfra FC, AL Ain Club, Sharjah Sports Club, Hatta, and Shabab Alahli among many others. This was an amazing experience for me as I became acclimated to the sport culture of the Middle East as well as being able to build relationships and network with many professionals there.

In December of 2019 I received my MBA from Morehead State and in September of 2022 I received my doctorate in Sports Management from the United States Sports University. My research areas include: Digital Marketing, Esports and Competitive Video Gaming, Esports Marketing and Sponsorship, Esports Event Management, Team Development and Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, Video Game History, Game Theory, Sports Entertainment, and Veterans Studies. I have presented at regional and national conferences and produced several publications regarding these areas of research in peer reviewed journals.

This is my 3rd year at Spalding and I am so excited to be here! I also act as the Assistant Coach for our Esports Team!

Publications

• Street, E., Chen, S., Cromartie, F., Spradley, B. The Perception of Hooliganism and Its Impact among NAIA Collegiate Soccer Players. Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management (FISHEEM) Journal.
• Chen, Steve; Hall, Adrienne; Gdovka, Anna K.; and Street, Eric (2021). Perceptions on Implementing a Comprehensive Athletic Website and Online Streaming Service for Kentucky High Schools. Atlantic Marketing Journal, 10 (1), Article 5.
• Street, E. & Chen, S. (2018). Teamwork from the Golden-Age Pirates: Could this Strategy Work in Today’s Contemporary Sports Setting? Missouri Journal of Health, Physical education, Recreation and Dance. 28 (1), 5-11.
• Chen, S., Street, E., Woods, A., Chen, C. (2018). A Case of Racial Tasking and Prejudice: Analyses of Race, Playing Position, Rate of Injuries, and Salaries in NFL. KAPHERD Journal, 55 (2), 28-36.

Honors & Affiliations

• Also serves as Assistant Esports Coach