Episode 2: Dave Kelley Wrote the Playbook on Sport Internships

CECH Chats welcomes Professor Dave Kelley of the School of Human Services. Kelley is a renowned Sport Administration professor and coordinator of the Online Master’s Degree Program here at UC. He began his career as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator in Ohio's Vinton County Local Schools before forging a path in academia. Kelley has over two decades experience in higher education and has significantly impacted the sport administration field through his innovative teaching methods and extensive professional expertise.

Author of a 2012 book about sports fundraising, Kelley has a new work releasing soon titled Internship Playbook: Skills and Strategies for Sport Industry Success. The book aims to distill Kelley’s extensive experience with sport administration internship work to share guidance for students looking to gain an advantage in pursuit of a rewarding career.

In this episode, Kelley talks with us about the role sports played in his early days, growing up in Pittsford, New York, as well as his journey from public school roles into academia. He reveals how he arrived at the idea for the Internship Playbook and shared one tip he considers essential for anyone completing an internship. He also tells the story of how he came up with the idea for the Cincinnati Public Schools All-Star Showcase, an annual basketball event that benefits Project Connect’s mission of advocating for and helping CPS students experiencing homelessness.