The Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies prepares scholars, practitioners, and leaders in exercise, sport, and recreation, conducts cutting-edge research, and maintains a commitment to inclusive excellence, social justice, and global initiatives. The department offers undergraduate programs in Kinesiology, Sport Management and Therapeutic Recreation, and graduate programs in Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Physical Activity Epidemiology, Socio-Cultural Studies, Sport Management, Sport Psychology & Motor Behavior, and Therapeutic Recreation. In addition, the department houses the Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP), providing a variety of exercise/performance activities for the University community.

Research Laboratories

Applied Exercise Physiology Laboratory

The Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies’ Applied Physiology Laboratory houses equipment available for graded, maximal testing, as well as equipment used for fieldwork, biochemical assays, muscle fiber analysis and body composition assessment.

Applied Sport Psychology Lab

The Applied Sport Psychology Laboratory provides a space for research focused in applied sport psychology, specifically (but not limited to): sport psychology service use, coaching effectiveness, social psychological experiences of female athletes, body image in sport, and cultural sport psychology. In addition, faculty connected with the lab conduct individual performance consultations and/or workshops, graduate student supervision of consultations, and teaching performance consulting skills and strategies to graduate students.

Biomechanics Laboratory

The Biomechanics/Sports Medicine Laboratory at The University of Tennessee is housed in a facility of 3,000 square foot for subject preparation, warmup, and testing, data processing and analysis, and teaching in biomechanics. The actual lab area is petitioned into several designated areas for (1) a main data collection area that features a 9-camera high-speed motion capture system mounted on adjustable (vertically and horizontally) rails and three force platforms mounted on a mounting structure flexible adjustment of the force platforms’ positions to accommodate a variety of data collection needs; (2) a secondary data collection area featuring a 6-camera high-speed motion capture system mounted on adjustable tripods around a treadmill and unweighing system ; (3) a balance testing area; (4) an isokinetic testing area; (5) an in-house computer lab with six networked PC computers; (6) 3 office partitions for graduate students; (7) a large and a small storage area for equipment and testing products. Current research projects in the lab focus on the biomechanics of athletic footwear and medical orthoses, lower extremity loading during dynamic movements, lower extremity injury mechanisms and prevention, gait mechanics following total joint replacement, and gait retraining using real-time feedback. The lab is capable of evaluating and analyzing gait, footwear and medical orthoses, locomotion and sports techniques, and other aspects of biomechanics.

Motor Behavior Laboratory

The focus of the Motor Behavior Laboratory is directed towards identifying and understanding the factors that mediate motor performance, the learning of motor skills, and the control of goal-directed actions. Research is conducted to test hypotheses, develop theory-based knowledge that applies to practical settings, and solve practical problems related to goal-directed actions and skills.

Faculty

The research interests of each faculty member can be found on their individual webpage within the online departmental directory.

David R. Bassett, Jr., Professor: Exercise Physiology
James Bemiller, Associate Professor: Sport Management
Dawn P. Coe, Assistant Professor
: Exercise Physiology
Joy T. DeSensi, Professor and Associate Dean of the 
Graduate School: Socio-Cultural Studies and Sport Management
Lars Dzikus, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies: Socio-Cultural Studies
Jeffrey Fairbrother, Associate Professor and Interim Department Head: Motor Behavior
Leslee A. Fisher, Associate Professor: Sport Psychology
Gene Fitzhugh, Associate Professor: Physical Activity Epidemiology
Rob Hardin, Associate Professor: Sport Management
Gene Hayes, Professor: Therapeutic Recreation
Sarah J. Hillyer, Clinical Assistant Professor: Socio-Cultural Studies; Director of the Center for Sport, Peace, & Society
Ashleigh M. Huffman, Clinical Assistant Professor: Socio-Cultural Studies; Assistant Director of the Center for Sport, Peace, & Society
Clare Milner, Associate Professor: Biomechanics
Fritz G. Polite, Clinical Assistant Professor: Sport Management
Dixie Thompson, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs: Exercise Physiology
Sylvia Trendafilova, Assistant Professor: Sport Management
Steven Waller, Associate Professor: Recreation and
Sport Management
Angela Wozencroft, Assistant Professor: Therapeutic Recreation
Rebecca A. Zakrajsek, Assistant Professor: Sport Psychology
Songning Zhang, Associate Professor: Biomechanics

Coordinators and Professional Staff

Larry Y. Brown, Internship Coordinator
Emile Catignani, Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP) Coordinator
Margy Wirtz-Henry, Faculty Associate and Admissions Coordinator
Lynnetta Holbrook, Administrative Supervisor III
Pamela Andrews, Senior Research Assistant

Department Support Staff

Sarah Bicknell, Administrative Support Assistant III
Jane Johns, Administrative Support Assistant III

Contact

Jeffrey Fairbrother, Associate Professor and Interim Department Head
Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies
The University of Tennessee
1914 Andy Holt Ave.
322 HPER Bldg.
Knoxville, TN 37996-2700
Phone: (865) 974-3616

Email: jfairbr1@utk.edu

Website: http://web.utk.edu/~sals/