Ryan Kota

Ryan Kota, PhD, MBA is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Sport Management Program. He completed his MBA at St. Bonaventure University, M.S. in Sport Management at Baylor University, and PhD in Sport Management at Florida State University. His research interests include sport cultural studies and consumer motivations with new technologies. Specifically, to cultural studies, he is interested in exploring how sport organizations can address barriers to entry for underrepresented populations, while his interests in consumer motivations range from daily fantasy sport and eSports, to the new entertainment tactics implemented and food options offered in minor league baseball.

Before joining SMU, Ryan was an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Sport Management Program at North Dakota State University (NDSU). During his time at NDSU, he led a revitalization of the student organization, which included a student development trip to Phoenix, AZ to learn about Major League Baseball (MLB) from stadium General Managers (and to relax in luxury suites). He was also a consultant in the creation of a standalone eSports lab that is professionally outfitted in the student union on campus.

Prior to becoming a professor, Ryan has enjoyed a myriad of professional and volunteer experiences. He has experience as a commercial real estate property manager, race director/promoter/organizer for local nonprofit cycling organizations, director of multiple grassroots cycling events, and has consulted for the nonprofit arm of local cycling shops.

With his free time, Ryan loves riding his mountain bike, whether that is across the state of Georgia (Trans North Georgia), or on one of the phenomenally maintained DORBA trails in the DFW metroplex. He also enjoys reading about new happenings in sport and maybe playing a little eSports here and there. On game days, you will find him cheering the loudest for the San Francisco Giants (MLB) and Chelsea (Premier League; Champions of Europe) right alongside Sasha, his very spirited, energetic (and now talking) Husky pup.