Biography
Eric Forsyth is a full professor at Bemidji State University. He received his doctorate in sport administration, with a minor in marketing management. He is a founding member of the interscholastic athletic administration graduate curriculum standards endorsed by the National Association for Sport & Physical Education and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). In addition, he received the distinction as a certified master athletic administrator through the NIAAA certification program. Through all these endeavors he has had the privilege of working with several 'key players' within the interscholastic sport arena. Eric's most memorable role was having the distinct pleasure in serving as president of the Minnesota AAHPERD Association.
Degrees
- Ph.D., The University of New Mexico
- M.A., San Francisco State University
- B.A., San Francisco State University
- A.S., Casper College
Certifications
- Certified Master Athletic Administrator
- Certified Athletic Administrator
Teaching
- Introduction to Sport Management
- Socio Culture & Ethical Issues in Sport
- Sport Business Management
- Sport Economics
- Sport Finance
- Sport Marketing
Supervision
- Sport Management Practicums
- Sport Management Internships
Research Interests
With a passion for interscholastic sports and sport branding, Eric has achieved numerous scholarly accomplishments. He has published articles in various journals, presented at international and national conferences, written text chapters, co-editor for a textbook and attained professional certifications. The following is a list of his scholarship involvement:
- 24 - Abstracts; refereed proceedings
- 05 - Ancillary material; texts
- 06 - Articles; encyclopedias, juried
- 24 - Articles; refereed, peer-review
- 96 - Articles; trade, outdoor
- 02 - Certifications; interscholastic athletic administration
- 11 - Consultations; sponsorships
- 35 - Leadership training courses
- 59 - Presentations; refereed and invited
- 03 - Quality matters; online courses
- 07 - Research Reports; interscholastic sport issues
- 16 - Research Studies; interscholastic and collegiate sport issues
- 15 - Reviewer; academic journals, textbooks, academic programs
- 05 - Texts / Manuals; high school athletics
- 16 - Text chapters; interscholastic sport, athletic & sport brands
Recent Work
Textbook (Refereed)
- Blackburn, M., Forsyth, E., Olson, J. and Whitehead, B. (2013). NIAAA's Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 392 pages.
Textbook Chapters (Refereed)
- Forsyth, E. Honey Brake. In Lee, J. (2023, 3rd Edition). Branded:Branding in Sport Business. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press (in development).
- Forsyth, E, & Lee, J. Mossy Oak. In Lee, J. (2023, 3rd Edition). Branded: Branding in Sport Business. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press (in development).
- Forsyth, E. & Lee, J. Bass Pro Shops. In Lee, J. (2023, 3rd Edition). Branded: Branding in Sport Business. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press (in development).
- Lee, J. & Forsyth, E. Duluth Trading Co. In Lee, J. (2023, 3rd Edition). Branded: Branding in Sport Business. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press (in development).
- Forsyth, E., Martin T. & Whisenant, W. (Chapter 8). Interscholastic Athletics. In Pedersen, et al. (2022, 7th Edition). Contemporary Sport Management. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, pp. 172-195.
- Forsyth, E. & Penner, L. (Chapter 9). A Look from the West: University of Wyoming Athletics. In Lee, et al. (2021). Branding in Higher Ed: Every University Tells A Story. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, pp. 93-104.
- Forsyth, E. & Schwartz, J. (Chapter 13). Welcome to Fargo: A Look into North Dakota State University Athletics. In Lee, et al. (2021). Branding in Higher Ed: Every University Tells A Story. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, pp. 139-148.
- Forsyth, E. (Chapter 18). Mossy Oak. In Lee, J. (2018, 2nd Edition). Branded: Branding in Sport Business. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, pp. 213-225.
- Forsyth, E. & Lee, J. (Chapter 24). Bass Pro Shops. In Lee, J. (2018, 2nd Edition). Branded: Branding in Sport Business. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, pp. 315-324.
Articles (Sport Encyclopedia)
- Forsyth, E., Athletic Director. In Pedersen, P. (2022). Encyclopedia of Sport Management. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 40-42.
- Forsyth, E., National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. In Dodds, M. & Reese Jr., T. (2015). Sports Leadership: A Concise Reference Guide. Santa Barbara, CA: Mission Bell Media, pp. 163-164.
- Forsyth, E., Brand Image. In Swayne, L.E. & Dodds, M. (2011). Encyclopedia of Sports Management & Marketing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, pp. 152-153.
Articles (Refereed)
- Forsyth, E., Fraina, M., Whisenant, W., Johnson, J. & Scott, B. (2022). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying Coaches and Officials Issues Pertinent in Interscholastic Athletics. Journal of Contemporary Athletics. Vole. 15, Iss. 2, p. 65-87.
- Fraina, M., Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W., Johnson, J. & Eicher, A. (2022). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying Ethical Issues Pertinent in Interscholastic Athletics. The Physical Educator. Vol. 79, No. 2, p. 157-188.
- Fraina, M., Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W. & Johnson, J. (2021). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying Participation Issues Pertinent in Interscholastic Athletics. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. Vol. 15, Iss 3, p. 1-24.
- Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W., Fraina, M., Johnson, J. & Stoffer, G. (2020). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying Decision-Making Issues Pertinent in Interscholastic Athletics. Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual. Vol 35, p. 114-145.
- Forsyth, E., Fraina, M., Johnson, J., Whisenant, W. & Stoffer, G. (2020). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Identifying Administration Issues Pertinent in Interscholastic Athletics. Journal of Amateur Sport. Vol 6, Iss 1, p. 1-31.
- Johnson, J., Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W. & Stoffer, G. (2019). Parents and Interscholastic Sport: A Mixed-Method Approach to Identify Salient Issues. Managing Sport and Leisure. Vol 24, Iss 1-3, p. 59-77.
- Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W., Johnson, J. & Fraina, M. (under review). How Issues Have Evolved for High School Athletics: Pre & Post Recession. Global Sport Business Journal.
Articles (Peer Review)
- Forsyth, E. (2021). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Participation & Sportsmanship. Indianapolis, IN: Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Vol. 47, No. 4, Summer, 12-15.
- Forsyth, E. (2021). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Ethics & Parents. Indianapolis, IN: Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Vol. 47, No. 3, Spring, 12-14.
- Forsyth, E. (2020). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Coaches & Officials. Indianapolis, IN: Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Vol. 46, No. 4, Summer, 40-43.
- Forsyth, E. (2020). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Administrative & Finance. Indianapolis, IN: Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Vol. 46, No. 3, Spring, 16-19.
- Forsyth, E. (2013). Contemporary Issues Surrounding Interscholastic Sports: Parents Issues. Indianapolis, IN: Interscholastic Athletic Administrator. Vol. 39, No. 3, Spring, 16-17.
- Forsyth, E. (2012). Contemporary Issues Surrounding Interscholastic Sports: Finance Issues. Indianapolis, IN: Interscholastic Athletic Administrator. Vol. 39, No. 1, Fall, 16-18.
Articles (Trade Publication)
- Forsyth, E. (May, 2018). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Iowa perspective. IHSADA Newsletter, Iss 2. Altoona, IA: Iowa Interscholastic Athletic Administration. (14-part article series)
- Forsyth, E. (February, 2018). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Minnesota perspective. MnIAAA Newsletter, Iss 1. Monticello, MN: Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Administration. (5-part article series)
- Forsyth, E. (November, 2017). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Minnesota perspective. MnIAAA Newsletter, Iss 3. Monticello, MN: Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Administration. (5-part article series)
- Forsyth, E. (May, 2017). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: Administrative, Classification, Coaches, and Ethics Issues: Minnesota perspective. MnIAAA Newsletter, Iss 2. Monticello, MN: MnIAAA. (4-part article series)
- Forsyth, E. (April, 2017). Contemporary Issues within High School Sports: North Dakota perspective. Mandan, ND: North Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administration. (14-part article series)
Presentations (Refereed)
- Johnson, J., Forsyth, E., Fraina, M. & Whisenant, W. (2023). High School Sports Research in the United States: We Can Do Better. Global Sport Business Association Conference: Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (forthcoming)
- Fraina, M. Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W. & Johnson, J. (2022) Examining Issues Related to Parental Involvement, Scheduling, Specialization, and Sportsmanship in Interscholastic Athletics. North American Society for Sport Management: Atlanta, GA.
- Fraina, M. & Forsyth, E. (December 2021). How Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Ranked Contemporary Issues in the Northeast United States. Farmingdale State College Celebration of Scholarship Conference: Farmingdale, NY.
- Fraina, M. & Forsyth, E. (December, 2020). Issues in Interscholastic Athletics. Farmingdale State College Celebration of Scholarship Conference: Farmingdale, NY.
- Fraina, M. & Forsyth, E. (November, 2019). Examination of Pertinent Issues in Interscholastic Athletics. Farmingdale State College Celebration of Scholarship Conference: Farmingdale, NY.
- Forsyth, E., Whisenant, W. & Johnson, J. (February, 2019). How Issues Have Evolved for High School Athletics: Pre & Post Recession. Global Sport Business Association Conference: Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
- Forsyth, E. (February, 2017). Current Issues in Interscholastic Sports. Global Sport Business Association Conference: Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Presentations (Sabbatical Work)
- (2018). Nissan and 4-H: Bringing Both Brands Together for a Journey of a Lifetime. Corporate presentation prepared for Nissan executives. (on behalf of Honey Brake Confluence Group)
- (2018). 4-H Nissan Partnership: Bringing Notoriety to Nissan That is Deserving. Corporate presentation prepared for 4-H executives. (on behalf of Honey Brake Confluence Group)
- (2018). Nissan, 4-H, and LSU College of Agriculture: Proposed Endowments in Support of 4H's Youths and LSU Agriculture Students. Corporate presentation prepared for Nissan executives. (on behalf of Honey Brake Confluence Group)
- (2018). Mossy Oak 4-H Partnership: What a partnership with the country's largest youth organization can mean to Mossy Oak. Corporate presentation prepared for Mossy Oak executives. (on behalf of Honey Brake Confluence Group)
Reviewer
- Journal - To date I have reviewed eight submissions for three academic journals; International Journal of Sport Communication, Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, and Journal of Amateur Sport.
- Program - I was invited to review Mayville State University sport management program.
- Textbook - To date I have reviewed six textbooks for various publishers.
Professional Service
- Advisory Board - Honey Brake Confluence Group.
- Foundation Board - Honey Brake Confluence Group.
- Founding Member - NASPE / NIAAA Graduate Curriculum Standards for High School & Middle School Sport Leaders.
- Past President - Minnesota Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Recognition
- 2022 - Selected as most influential advisor; twice.
- 2021 - Received award of excellence for online course design.
- 2019 - Selected as most influential academic advisor.
- 2018 - Selected as most influential academic advisor; twice.
- 2017 - Selected as most influential academic advisor.
- 2012 - Selected as most influential academic advisor.
- 2008 - Student advisory recognition.
- 2005 - Student advisory recognition.
Open Field
On a personal note: When he is not in the classroom, you can bet Eric is in the woods during the hunting season. He has even written stories on his bear hunting adventures, which appear in outdoor magazines. He is a member of the 'Iron Butt Association' for riding his motorcycle 1,000 miles in under 24-hours; three times. Furthermore, he is a member of the 'Motorcycle Road Warrior Association' having logged over 75,000 miles. He also enjoys playing the drums. Most importantly, when all is said and done … if his wife can say he was a good husband and his kids can say he was a good dad, then he believes he has truly accomplished something.