Brian Wood, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Health Science and Sport Studies at California University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Wood’s undergraduate studies culminated in graduation from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a double major in biology and philosophy.   Following graduation, Dr. Wood’s employment focused on the biopharmaceutical drug development field.  In 2000, Dr. Wood returned to academia at Minnesota State University–Mankato, where these studies resulted in a Master of Science degree in Sport Management.  The pursuit of higher education brought Dr. Wood to the University of New Mexico, where a Ph.D. in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation with a Sport Administration concentration was obtained.

 

While earning his Masters degree, Dr. Wood had the opportunity to live at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and worked for USA Rugby.  Specific duties during the time with this national governing body included coordinating national championship tournaments, developing a national restructuring proposal, and attending coaching accreditation programs as the representative for the USA Rugby national office.  Dr. Wood has played with and coached rugby teams of all ages and skill levels in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.  For five years he served on the coaching staff for the Wisconsin Under-19 Boys’ Elite Rugby program which placed thirteen players on the Under19 National Rugby Team during his tenure.  More recently, Dr. Wood guided the Pittsburgh Women’s Rugby Club to the 2006 Division II National Championships where the team placed 4^th.  In January 2007, Wood was tapped to serve as assistant coach for the Midwest Women’s Selectside (i.e., “All-Star”) team.

 

Professional organization affiliates/memberships include the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), the Sport and Recreation Law Association (SLRA), and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD).  Legal issues of sport, international athletics, elite team selection processes and coaching are chief among his areas of teaching and research interest.