Jonathon Edwards

Biography

Dr. Jonathon Edwards holds a Bachelor of Sport Management (BSM) from Brock University, and both a Master’s degree and PhD in Sport Management from the University of Alberta. His academic career is rooted in the study of sport and recreation organizations, with a particular focus on the relationship between non-profit sport organizations and government.

Dr. Edwards’ research interests span a wide range of topics including hockey organizations and structures, coaching, youth elite sport development, athlete pathways, institutional work, legitimacy, sport development systems, and institutional theory. While he conducts research across various areas of sport and recreation, a significant portion of his work focuses on hockey organizations. He also explores professional sport organizations and their evolving roles within the broader sport ecosystem.

In the classroom, Dr. Edwards teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including Recreation and Sport Delivery Systems, Marketing and Sponsorship in Recreation and Sport, and Careers and People Management. He is committed to mentorship and welcomes inquiries from prospective Master’s and PhD students interested in sport and recreation research.

Current projects

• Women's hockey development system
• Coaching in women's hockey
• The "Pay to Play" model in the Canadian sport system
• Sport and recreation policy development and implementation throughout Canada
• Fan loyalty
• Professional sport organizations (leagues, teams) and structure
• Decision making in professional sport organizations
• Youth sport development in the Canadian sport system

Publications/presentations

Edwards, J., & Kloos, K. (2022). Coach evaluation in the National Coaching Certification Program: Understanding the relationship dynamics between coach evaluators and the coach. Leisure/Loisir, 48(1), 149-181.

Cocchiarella, D. & Edwards, J.R. (2022). Challenging the Amateur rule in the NCAA: a case study of the failed attempt at institutional disruption by Northwestern University football players. Managing Sport and Leisure, 27(5), 470-483.

Kulczycki, C., Edwards, J., & Potwarka, L. (2022). “Not on My Front Lawn”: A Case Study of Hosting the 2017 Heritage Classic Event on Parliament Hill in Canada. Event Management, 26(4), 697-716.

Edwards, J.R., & Kulczycki, C. (2022). “I do it for the kids”: The sacrificial nature of volunteer coaching in community youth sport in Canada. Leisure/Loisir, 46(3), 347- 380.

Macdonald, C. & Edwards, J. (2021). Overcoming the neutral zone trap: Hockey’s agent of change. Alberta Press.

Nite, C., & Edwards, J. (2021). From isomorphism to institutional work: Advancing institutional theory in sport management research. Sport Management Review, 24(5), 815-838.

Edwards, J., Wood, L., Chard, C., & Potwarka, L. (2019). Why do Canadian Hockey Players Choose NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey Programs? A Qualitative Investigation. Managing Sport and Leisure, 24(6), 339-355.

Asselstine, S., & Edwards, J.R. (2019). Managing the Resource Capabilities of Provincial Rugby Unions in Canada: An Understanding of Competitive Advantage within a Sport Development System. Managing Sport and Leisure, 24(1-3), 78-96.

Edwards, J.R., & Kulczycki, C. (2019). “Who wants to go to the outdoor rink?”: A Media Analysis of Canada’s Outdoor Rinks and the Connection to Canada’s National Identity. Leisure/Loisir, 42(4), 1-36.

Edwards, J.R., & Leadbetter**, R. (2016). Collaborative governance in a sport system: A critique of a “one-size-fits-all” approach to administering a national standardized sport program. Managing Sport and Leisure, 21(3), 142-163.

Rich, K.A., Hoeber, L., Edwards, J., Giles, A., & Pegoraro, A. (2025). Interpreting sport policy data: Tensions, challenges, and opportunities of qualitative approaches to policy research. Submitted to European Association for Sport Management Conference, Budapest, HU.

Kulczycki, C., & Edwards, J.R. (2023). Legitimacy in an Untapped Market: The Special Event of the NHL’s Heritage Classic in the Middle of the Canadian Prairies. Oral presentation at European Association of Sport Management Conference in Belfast, Ireland, September 12-15, 2023.