Tyler Hajek
Assistant Professor of Sport and Recreation Management
Biography
Dr. Tyler Hajek serves as an assistant professor of sport management.
His research focuses on legalized sports betting, sport employees, revenue generation and pedagogy. Hajek also teaches a variety of classes in both the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Prior to academia, he gained experience and insights working in the sport industry through a variety of roles.
Hajek emphasizes the importance of connecting earned knowledge to practical application. A proud alumnus of South Dakota State University and former ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøs student-athlete, he is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with students through class, research and career preparation.
His research focuses on legalized sports betting, sport employees, revenue generation and pedagogy. Hajek also teaches a variety of classes in both the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Prior to academia, he gained experience and insights working in the sport industry through a variety of roles.
Hajek emphasizes the importance of connecting earned knowledge to practical application. A proud alumnus of South Dakota State University and former ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøs student-athlete, he is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with students through class, research and career preparation.
Education
- B.S. in sport, recreation and park management | South Dakota State University | 2016
- M.A. in sport management | Minnesota State University, Mankato | 2018
- Ph.D. in sport and exercise science: sport administration | University of Northern Colorado | 2025
Research and Scholarly Work
Areas of Research
- Legalized sports betting
- Sport employees
- Revenue generation
- Pedagogy
Awards and Honors
- Crown College Showcase of Excellence in Academics: Faculty Advisor to Student Project Award-Winners (Brueckner R., Fude, K. and Stout, J., 2025; Earick, A., 2023)
- Uncommon Sports Group: Professor of the Year (2024)
- Crown College: Distinguished Faculty for Scholarship (2023)
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Inside Sales Wolf Award (2019)
- Minnesota Vikings: All-Pro Service Distinction (2018)
Grants
- National Collegiate Athletic Association Strategic Initiative: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (2025)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association Strategic Initiative: Division III Faculty Athletic Representative Orientation (2024)
- University of Northern Colorado Graduate Student Association: Grant Review Committee (2020-2022)
Publications
Referred Publications
- Mondt, A.B., Hajek, T.J. and Smith, N.L. (2026). International Journal of Sport Management, 27(1), 59-85.
- Schuetz, L., Hajek, T.J., Lee, Y.L. and Runyan, B. (2025). . The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation Journal, 2(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.25035/cosma.02.01.02
- Mondt, A., Hajek, T.J. and Otto, M. (2024). . Journal of Amateur Sport, 10(1), 90-110. DOI: 10.17161/jas.v10i1.21203
- Hajek, T.J. and Sung, Y.T. (2023). . Sport Management Education Journal, 17(2), 177-182. DOI: 10.1123/smej.2021-0030
- Hajek, T.J., Lee, Y. and Schuetz, L. (2023). . Journal of Emerging Sport Studies, 9, 1-26. DOI: 10.26522/jess.v9i.4415
Other Contributions
- Hajek, T.J. (2022). Where is seat 10? In Schwarz, E.C., Brannigan, K.J., Cattani, K.P. and Hunter, J.D., Advanced theory and practice in sport marketing, (4th ed., pp. 173-176). Routledge.
- Schuetz, L., Hajek, T.J. and Romano, A. (2022). Encompassing a university’s spirit: The importance of brand equity in intercollegiate athletics. In Schwarz, E.C., Brannigan, K.J., Cattani, K.P. and Hunter, J.D., Advanced theory and practice in sport marketing, (4th ed., pp. 149-153). Routledge.
Associated Areas
