UMass Boston

Brooks Will Serve as the Director of the New Balance Institute for Innovative Leadership in Sport

The University of Massachusetts Boston announced today that Dr. Scott Brooks has been named the new Dr. J. Keith Motley Endowed Chair for Sport Leadership and Administration. In addition to this new role, Brooks will serve as the director of the New Balance Institute for Innovative Leadership in Sport in the College of Education and Human Development.

Brooks is a sociologist, author, and global sport leader whose work focuses on helping people turn sports participation into educational and leadership opportunities. His primary interests are youth and sport; inequality in sport, coaching and leadership; and community-based sports interventions. He is the author of the books Black Men Can’t Shoot and the forthcoming Playing Time: Boys, Coaches, and Parents in the Battle for Minutes in Youth Basketball.

Prior to joining UMass Boston, Brooks served as director of Arizona State University’s Global Sport Institute. He has 20 years of experience coaching youth sports and has consulted with organizations including the NFL, MLB, NCAA, USA Basketball, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. He also has worked with Adidas and the Denver Broncos and taught a business essentials course for an NBA G League team for three seasons. Brooks’ work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, ESPN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

As director of the New Balance Institute for Innovative Leadership in Sport, he will help lead research initiatives, student learning, professional development, and collaboration with leaders in the sports industry.

“We are thrilled to welcome Scott Brooks to UMass Boston,” said Joseph Berger, UMass Boston provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Scott brings an extraordinary combination of scholarship, industry experience, and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity through sport. His leadership will help establish the New Balance Institute as a place where research, education, and the sports industry come together to develop the next generation of leaders. Most importantly, his work will create meaningful opportunities for our students to learn from and connect with leaders across the sports world as they prepare to launch their own careers.” 

“New Balance is excited to join in welcoming Scott Brooks to UMass Boston to lead their Sport Leadership & Administration program as well as our Institute, and build on the incredible success that has been established in recent years,” said Joe Preston, New Balance President & CEO at New Balance. “Scott’s academic leadership and passion for sport will enable meaningful educational and experiential opportunities for students to develop into tomorrow’s change-making sports industry leaders.”

UMass Boston’s Sport Leadership and Administration program prepares undergraduate students for careers in the sport industry at K-12 schools, colleges and universities, professional sports organizations, and community and nonprofit sports organizations. It emphasizes leadership development rather than training students solely for technical or administrative roles.

The program immerses students in the history, economics, psychology, and sociology of sport, preparing students to be transformative leaders who drive positive change through the industry. The program differentiates itself through a combination of strong leadership training, meaningful undergraduate research experiences, and required internship opportunities in this sports capital of the country, translating theory into real-world projects and hands-on experiences, including exclusive opportunities through New Balance.

“This marks a transformative moment for the Sport Leadership and Administration program and the New Balance Institute for Innovative Leadership in Sport,” said Tara Parker, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “Building on an already strong foundation, Scott's vision and expertise will deepen our commitment to addressing structural inequities, expanding inclusive leadership, and preparing the next generation of change-makers in the sport industry.”

Brooks’ appointment is a major enhancement that will strengthen the program's research profile and provide additional opportunities for students, supporting UMass Boston’s commitment to advancing equitable practices and social responsibility inside the sports industry. He will begin his appointment in January.

About UMass Boston

The University of Massachusetts Boston is deeply rooted in the city's history yet poised to address the challenges of the future. Recognized for innovative research, metropolitan Boston’s public university offers its diverse student population both an intimate learning environment and the rich experience of a great American city. UMass Boston’s colleges and graduate schools serve 16,000 students while engaging local and global constituents through academic programs, research centers, and public service. To learn more, visit www.umb.edu.