Assoc ProfessorSeamus Kelly

Dr. Seamus Kelly is an Associate Professor in the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science. Seamus held senior leadership positions such as the UCD Centre for Sports Studies Director (2014-2021), head of Subject, Sport Management (2016-2021) and has lectured on the BSc, MSc and Diploma in Sport and Exercise Management programmes since 2002. He holds BComm (1996), MBS (2001) and PhD (2010) degrees from UCD and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning from DIT. His doctoral research examined many aspects of management in professional football and was based on interviews with players, agents and managers in the English Premier League, Championship and League I & II. His work has featured in journals such as: European Sport Management Quarterly, Sport, Business and Management, Reflective Practice, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, British Journal of Sport Medicine, Sport Medicine-open, International Review for the Sociology of Sport and Soccer in Society. Seamus has consulted with a number of National Governing Bodies (GAA, FAI) and professional football clubs in the UK and Ireland on the application of many aspects of his research. Much of this research focuses on aspects of player, coach and manager assessment and development. In terms of research, gaining access to the closed world of professional football was due, in part, to his previous professional (Cardiff City, St. Patrick's Athletic & Bohemian F.C.) and semi-professional (UCD & Longford Town) playing experience. Seamus is also a former UCD soccer scholarship recipient and was selected for the Irish Universities, Irish Beach Soccer and numerous Irish National League representative teams. He also attained an Irish B cap and numerous winners' league medals from the UK and Ireland. Additional sporting achievements include GAA (Hurling & Football) playing experiences up to and including senior inter-county level with Offaly. Considerable coaching experience was gained with Shamrock Rovers, Drogheda United, Shelbourne and numerous senior inter-county GAA teams.