Spotlights
Meet the Faculty
Dr. Coles has been a GVSU Sport Management faculty member for the
past 5 years. Dr. Coles, originally from Greenville, MI, studied
English at Valparaiso University, where he played Division I tennis.
He also holds a Masters degree in Athletic Administration from Central
Michigan University and a PhD in Sport Management from Northcentral University.
Before joining GVSU, Dr. Coles served as Intramural Director and
Tennis Coach at Lake Superior State University. Later, he became
Athletic Director at Big Rapids High School, followed by a decade as
Associate Athletic Director at Ferris State University, overseeing
game management, marketing, promotions, and much more for 9 Bulldog teams.
His favorite part of his role is connecting with alumni, a
passion he fulfills through his "Teach the Teacher Tour,"
visiting former students across the US. He's excited about an upcoming
visit to Ole Miss to learn about fundraising in the SEC from 2021
Sport Management alum Madison Summerfield. Dr. Coles cherishes
messages from students landing their first jobs and enjoys watching
his students run events like Rally with the Rapids and Paint the Park Pink.
Dr. Coles is a husband and father, coaching his 3 children in
various sports. He is a contributing author for Love to Watch You
Play, a site aiding parents in raising successful youth athletes.
Along with that, he is actively involved in Big Rapids; he played a
pivotal role in raising $2M+ for a park renovation, adding facilities
like basketball and tennis courts, a splash pad, and pickleball courts.
Thanks for all you do, Dr. Coles!
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