The motivations of esports players

The motivations of esports players (from the book Understanding esports: An introduction to the global phenomenon) David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT Since the early 2000s, several inquiries have focused on...

The use of DISC behavioral profiling and training: An innovative pedagogical strategy to enhance learning and future career opportunities through sport management and sport coaching in higher education classrooms

Elizabeth M. MasenUniversity of the Sunshine Coast David P. Hedlund, Ph.D.St. John’s University Jacob K. Tingle, Ed.D.*Trinity University Abstract:...

Classifying sport consumers: From casual to tribal fans

Classifying sport consumers: From casual to tribal fans David P. Hedlund, Rui Biscaia, and Maria do Carmo Leal ABSTRACT Sport fans rarely attend sporting events alone. While traditional consumer and...

Conceptualising and Measuring Fan Identity using Stakeholder Theory

Conceptualising and Measuring Fan Identity Using Stakeholder Theory Rui Biscaia, David P. Hedlund, Geoff Dickson and Michael Naylor ABSTRACT Research question: Building on identity...

Towards a Future Esports Research: Introduction to Esports Minitrack

Siuda, P., Behnke, M., & Hedlund, D. P. ABSTRACT Research on esports is a relatively new, yet fast-growing discipline with multiple inter- and multi-disciplinary perspectives. For HICSS-56,...

National Coaching Standards: Perceptions and the Undertaking of Core Responsibilities by Beginner, Intermediate and Elite Sport Coaches

In recent years, the responsibilities of sport coaches have expanded to include more than just directing practices, overseeing training and game management. As a result, a greater focus is being...

Youth Sport Coaches’ Perceptions of Sexually Inappropriate Behaviors and Intimate Coach-Athlete Relationships

Sungwon Kim, Daniel P. Connaughton, & David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT Although sexual harassment and abuse in youth sport have received increasing research attention worldwide, less is known about...

The influence of perceived fan orientation on satisfaction, loyalty and sport consumption behaviors

The influence of perceived fan orientation on satisfaction, loyalty and sport consumption behaviors Hüseyin Köse, Metin Argan and David Hedlund ABSTRACT Purpose – The purpose of this research is to...

A Typology of Esport Players

A Typology of Esport Players David P. Hedlund ABSTRACT In recent years, esports have grown from a small number of local gaming activities undertaken by a few recreational participants to a...

The Education of Sport Coaches: What Should They Learn and When Should They Learn It?

The Education of Sport Coaches: What Should They Learn and When Should They Learn It? David P. Hedlund, Carol A. Fletcher, Simon M. Pack, and Sean Dahlin ABSTRACT Around the world, there is a...

David P. Hedlund, Ph.D.

Sport Management, Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Coaching, Analytics and Esports Professor and Consultant


David P. Hedlund, Ph.D. is a Full Professor and the Chairperson of the Division of Sport Management at St. John’s University in New York City. Dr. Hedlund earned his Ph.D. and a certificate in Measurement and Statistics from Florida State University.  He has more than 20 years of domestic and international experience in sports, esports, coaching, business, education and analytics. His areas of sport expertise and research include management, marketing, consumer behavior, sponsorship, coaching, esports and analytics. Dr. Hedlund also is a faculty advisor for esports at St. John’s University, an advisor for the student Sport Management Association, the Co-Moderator for the Gaming and Emerging Technology co-curricular club, in addition to numerous other service roles.

Dr. Hedlund is the lead editor and author of the first-of-its-kind textbook “Esports Business Management,” he is the founding Chief Editor of the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, and he is a member of the Esports Research Network.

Outside of the university, Dr. Hedlund has also acted as a consultant for dozens of domestic and international high school, college, and professional esports teams as well as business and entrepreneurial ventures.  He is a globally recognized speaker and has spoken at international esports events such as the World Cyber Games and the Global Esports Executive Summit. Dr. Hedlund also works with collegiate and professional sport organizations on numerous analytics projects, while also educating students about current issues and opportunities in sports analytics, esports, entrepreneurship and other opportunities.

Dr. Hedlund is also a managing partner of Hedlund-Chuang Consulting Group, LLC.