Hayden V Coombs, Ph.D.

Adjunct Faculty Member

About

Dr. Hayden Coombs is a seasoned educator and sports communication professional, currently serving as a sports management professor at Southern Utah University (SUU). After a dynamic career in sports media and athletic administration, Dr. Coombs joined SUU's Department of Communication in 2016 as a lecturer and director of the university's journalism program. He spent six years mentoring future journalists and creating the university’s institutional certificate in sports communication.

In 2022, after earning his PhD in Education with a specialization in Sport and Athletic Administration, he transitioned to teaching sports management. Dr. Coombs emphasizes experiential learning, creative thinking, and helping students secure internships that lead to successful careers. He has held professional roles with major organizations, including Bleacher Report, the Phoenix Suns, the Portland Trailblazers, the Southern Utah Yeti, and SUU Athletics. His passion is empowering students to thrive independently in the sports industry.

Education

Northcentral University

Doctor of Philosophy in Sport & Athletic Management, December 2022 Graduate
HIgher Education & Athletic Administration Emphasis
Dissertation- The Complex Identities of International Student-Athletes Competing in the NCAA: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study

Southern Utah University

Master of Arts in Professional Communications, May 2016 Graduate
Thesis- Rhetorical Analysis of Mythical Framing in ESPN.com’s Coverage of the 2015 NBA Finals

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Bachelor of Science in Communication, December 2014 Graduate
Journalism emphasis

Expertise

Sports Management
Dr. Hayden Coombs is an expert in sports management, with a particular focus on preparing students for successful careers in the sports industry. His curriculum is designed around experiential learning, giving students hands-on experience through internships and real-world simulations. Dr. Coombs has played a pivotal role in building SUU’s sports communication certificate, helping students develop critical management skills needed to thrive in sports organizations, from community-level teams to professional sports franchises.

Athletic Administration
With a PhD in Education specializing in Sport and Athletic Administration, Dr. Coombs is highly knowledgeable in managing athletic departments and navigating the complexities of intercollegiate athletics. His academic work explores institutional inequities within FBS programs and crisis communication strategies, providing insight into the dynamic and often challenging world of athletic administration. He leverages his administrative experience to guide students toward leadership roles in sports organizations.

Sport Communication
Dr. Coombs has a background in sports communication, having worked with organizations like the Phoenix Suns and Bleacher Report. His academic research delves into social identity theory and how athletes, especially international student-athletes, navigate media narratives. He emphasizes the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication in professional sports, equipping his students with practical communication skills for success in sports media.

Framing & Agenda Setting in Sports Media
Dr. Coombs has extensively researched framing and agenda-setting in sports media, particularly focusing on how narratives are shaped around major sporting events like the NBA Finals. His published work critically examines mythical framing messages in sports journalism, providing deep insights into how media can influence public perception and shape the narratives around athletes and teams. His work on Rudy Gobert’s reputation offers a unique look into the lasting effects of media framing on an athlete's career.

Academic Publishing
Dr. Coombs is an accomplished academic author, contributing to several peer-reviewed journals and encyclopedia entries. His research spans topics such as international student-athletes, institutional inequities, and media framing. In addition to his publications, Dr. Coombs mentors emerging scholars in the publishing process, contributing to the development of GIFT (Great Ideas for Teaching) articles and offering guidance on writing, submission, and peer review in academic communication.

Publications

2025

Coombs, H. V., & Kershisnik, W. (2025 SUBMITTED). Don’t turn your back: Revisiting the now Hollywood vs. Wolfpac rivalry through the lens of social identity theory. International Journal of Sports Management.
Coombs, H. V. (2025 IN PROGRESS). Navigating new norms: The cultural and athletic integration of female international student-athletes in NCAA sports. In H. L. Hundley (Ed.), College sports and intersectionality: Examining contemporary issues in media and qualitative communication. MacMillan.

2024

Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2024 ACCEPTED). Silent signals: Enhancing communication skills through nonverbal cues GIFT. Kentucky Journal of Communication.
Coombs, H. V., Bagley, B. H., & Coombs, S. B. (2024 ACCEPTED). Social identity complexity and international student-athletes. Journal of Higher Education Athletics & Innovation.
Coombs, H. V., & Bagley, B. H. (2024 ACCEPTED). Perceptions of institutional inequities at FBS programs. Journal of Emerging Sports Studies.
Coombs, H. V., & Bagley, B. H. (2024 ACCEPTED). Transcending controversy: The Heisman Trophy Trust’s image repair strategies following OJ Simpson’s passing. Utah Journal of Communication.
Coombs, H. V. (2024 IN PRINT). Fostering a supportive culture for student-athlete success. In ASCEND to Higher Retention Rates (Vol. 3). TK Consulting.
Bagley, B., & Coombs, H. Crisis communication simulation: Navigating organizational response in real-time GIFT. Carolinas Communication Annual.
Bagley, B., & Coombs, H. (2024a). FOMO. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 384–385). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch222
Bagley, B., & Coombs, H. (2024b). Health communication. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 448–449). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch262
Coombs, H. (2024). Cartel. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 130–131). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch77
Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2024a). Communication accommodation. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 173–174). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch100
Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2024b). Ownership. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 690–692). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch402
Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2024c). Peer review. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 711–713). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch413
Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2024d). Salary caps. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 825–826). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch480
Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2024e). Social identity complexity. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 879–880). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch516
Coombs, H., & Barton, M. H. (2024). Paralipsis. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 696–698). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch405
Coombs, H., & Coombs, S. (2024). International student-athletes. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 508–510). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch297
Coombs, H., & Hubka, O. (2024). Ethnography. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 325–327). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch191
Coombs, H., & McCulley, R. (2024). Baseball management. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 80–82). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch47
Coombs, H., & Pradhan, S. (2024). BIRGing. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 98–100). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch58
Coombs, H., & Walker, K. (2024). Privilege. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 745–748). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch436
Harris, A., & Coombs, H. (2024). Peer mentoring. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 710–711). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch412
Kershisnik, B., & Coombs, H. (2024a). Kayfabe. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 528–530). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch308
Kershisnik, B., & Coombs, H. (2024b). Professional wrestling management. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 753–755). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch440
Pradhan, S., & Coombs, H. (2024). Corfing. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 212–213). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035317189.ch123
Coombs, H. V. (2024). Unholy fate. Exposed Bone Literary Magazine, 1(1). https://www.exposedbonemag.com/pieces/unholy-fate
Coombs, H. V. (2024). The cardboard box. Taborian Literary Magazine. https://thetaborian.com/issue-2024-02-the-cardboard-box/
Coombs, H. V. (2024). Embers of anticipation. Hearth & Coffin, 3(4). https://www.hearthandcoffin.com/post/embers-of-anticipation/

2023

Bagley, B. H., & Coombs, H. V. (2023). The Gobert report: How Rudy’s reputational crisis followed him to Minneapolis. Utah Journal of Communication, 1(2), 78–82. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10058771
Bagley, B., Fourney, S., & Coombs, H. (2023). The spiral of silence in the National Basketball Association. Journal of Sports Media, 17(2).
Coombs, H. V., Bagley, B., Barnhart, R., & Graudins, M. (2023). Sociolinguistic accommodation strategies used by international student-athletes. Journal Comunicação Pública, 18(35).
Coombs, H. (2023). Life, love, & longing: A chapbook of Shakespearean sonnet (Vol. 1). KDP.
Coombs, H. (2023). Se Deus quiser: A cultural immersion trip to Lisbon, Portugal that took four years of planning. The Global Review. Southern Utah University.
Coombs, H. (2023). Meu propósito. The Global Review. Southern Utah University.
Coombs, H. V. (2023). Lisboa, o meu coração. Voidspace Literary Magazine. https://voidspacezine.com/lisboa-o-meu-coracao/
Coombs, H. V., & Bagley, B. (2023). A streamlined peer review process. Utah Journal of Communication, 0(2), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7592199
Husselbee, L. P., & Coombs, H. V. (2023). Academic book reviews explained. Utah Journal of Communication, 0(2), 48–51. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7702244
Barton, M. H., & Coombs, H. V. (2023). Concise guide for preparing GIFT articles. Utah Journal of Communication, 0(2), 6–10. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7702244
Hubka, O., & Coombs, H. V. (2023). The culture of American collegiate athletics: An ethnographic study from a European perspective. Southern Utah University. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10366382/

2022

Coombs, H. (2022). The complex identities of international student-athletes competing in the NCAA: An exploratory qualitative case study [Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University]. ProQuest.
Coombs, H. (2022). Mythical framing messages in ESPN.com’s coverage of the NBA Finals over 10 years. Utah Journal of Communication, 0(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7134102
Bagley, B., Coombs, H., & Mikesell, A. C. (2022). Careers, demographics, and internet availability: Predictors of social media addiction. Utah Journal of Communication, 0(1), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7134106
Coombs, H. (2022). Case study research: Single or multiple? [White paper]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7106698

2021

Coombs, H., & Bagley, B. (2021). Salary caps. In Encyclopedia of Sport Management (pp. 412–413). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800883284.salary.caps
Coombs, H. (2021). An Introduction to Title IX and its Application to Intercollegiate Athletics. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7113567