David Pierce, Ph.D., is a Professor of Sport Management and Chair of the Department of Tourism, Event, and Sport Management. He is the Founding Editor of the Sports Innovation Journal and served as the Director of the Sports Innovation Institute (2017–2024).
Pierce is a problem solver and innovator in youth sports. He currently serves as director of the technical team for the Center for Sports Transformation in charge of working with Indiana communities to build a healthy youth sports ecosystem using the principles of long-term program development. He has also been instrumental through various classes and projects in the creation and growth of RefReps, an online sports officiating platform introducing sports officiating to help solve the sports officiating shortage nationwide.
Pierce is also an expert in the area of sport sales, publishing the first textbook to teach students how to sell (Selling in the Sport Industry, 2017). In the area of sports innovation, he pioneered the use of human-centered design in the sport management senior capstone course and has published an online curriculum used by other universities.
Prior to his arrival in Indianapolis, Pierce was the undergraduate coordinator of the sport administration program at Ball State University (2007–2013) and served as the radio play-by-play voice for the Marian University football team (2007–2012). Pierce graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in 2003, an M.S. in 2004, and his doctorate in 2007, all in sport management.
Honors & Awards
North American Society for Sport Management: Sport Management Education Journal Fellow Award (2023 inaugural award winner)
Sport Marketing Association: Sutton Award for sport marketing education (2019)
Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2019)
Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health: Early Career Outstanding Alumni Award (2018)
IU Indianapolis Department of Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management: Nick Kellum Research Award (2018)
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Outstanding Journal Article of the Year (2017)
IU Indianapolis Department of Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management: Nick Kellum Research Award (2016)
IU Indianapolis Department of Kinesiology: Sue Barrett Research Award recipient (2015)
Shape Indiana: Sport Management Educator of the Year (2015)
North American Society for Sport Management: Janet B. Parks Research Grant recipient (2014)
Sport Marketing Association: Bill Sutton Research Grant award recipient (2013)
Sport Marketing Association: Best Professional Paper at the SMA Conference (2012)
Shape Indiana: Young Professional of the Year (2011)
