Biography
Dr. Yuhei Inoue is a Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, having begun his appointment in August 2024. Previously, he served as a Professor of Sport Management at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, and Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis.
Dr. Inoue’s research mission is to lead a global movement to advance knowledge on measuring and managing the social impact of sport on individual and community well-being. In pursuit of this mission, he has published more than 80 journal articles, book chapters, and commissioned research reports.
Many of Dr. Inoue's publications appear in leading academic journals in sport management and related disciplines, including Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review, European Sport Management Quarterly, Journal of Leisure Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Business Research, WIREs Climate Change, and Social Science & Medicine. His research has been supported by various national and international organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, the Rugby Football League, Greater Manchester Moving, the British Academy, the National Social Science Fund of China, the Development Bank of Japan, and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Dr. Inoue has served as an Associate Editor for Sport Management Review since 2022. He is also a Research Fellow of the North American Society for Sport Management and holds Level 1 Associate Practitioner status with Social Value International.
In 2023, Dr. Inoue was invited by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to serve as an Expert Reviewer for the OECD’s Guides on Measuring the Impact of Culture, Sports, and Business Events. Additionally, he is a member of the UK government’s Grassroots Sport Facilities Evaluation Steering Group.
Dr. Inoue earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Temple University, an M.A. in Sport and Exercise Management from The Ohio State University, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Tsukuba. Before beginning his academic career, he worked for NFL Japan—a subsidiary of the National Football League—and engaged in the promotion of the league and American football in Japan.
For further details about Dr. Inoue's professional background and experiences, please see his CV.
Research Interests
I study how sport organizations, events, and programs can be managed to optimize their social impact on individual and community well-being. Specifically, my research examines the intersection of (a) social impact measurement and management and (b) health and well-being promotion, as applied in sport and related contexts. This work advances theoretical understanding of social impact, health, and well-being in sport management, as well as in the broader service and management fields. It further provides practical guidance for organizations and policymakers on designing strategies to effectively manage the social impact of sport-related initiatives.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Professor, Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies
Highlighted Publications
Inoue, Y., Sato, M., Swanson, S., Lock, D., Du, J., & Funk, D. C. (2025). Psychosocial resources linking consumer identification and social well-being: Integrating the social identity approach with transformative service research. Journal of Business Research, 195, Article 115361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115361
Scelles, N., Inoue, Y., Perkin, S. J., & Valenti, M. (2025). Social Impact Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives: Evaluating the Social Return on Investment of an Inclusion Offer. Journal of Business Ethics, 197(3), 613-629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05786-w
Inoue, Y., Lock, D., Sato, M., Aizawa, K., Mikura, A., Kohno, N., & Ogasawara, E. (2024). What explains the well-being benefits of physical activity? A mixed-methods analysis of the roles of participation frequency and social identification. Social Science and Medicine, 340, Article 116454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116454
Gordon, B. S., Yoshida, M., Inoue, Y., & Biscaia, R. (2025). Sport Fans and Flourishing: Examining the Mediating Role of Sport Fan Well-Being in Predicting Flourishing. Journal of Sport Management, 39(3), 180-195. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2024-0189
Recent Publications
Funasaki, K., Inoue, Y., Takahashi, Y., Shirai, K., & Okada, Y. (2025). Knowledge sharing among coaches: expert power and social cognitive theory perspectives. European Sport Management Quarterly, 25(1), 104-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2023.2299253
Gordon, B. S., Yoshida, M., Inoue, Y., & Biscaia, R. (2025). Sport Fans and Flourishing: Examining the Mediating Role of Sport Fan Well-Being in Predicting Flourishing. Journal of Sport Management, 39(3), 180-195. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2024-0189
Inoue, Y., Sato, M., Swanson, S., Lock, D., Du, J., & Funk, D. C. (2025). Psychosocial resources linking consumer identification and social well-being: Integrating the social identity approach with transformative service research. Journal of Business Research, 195, Article 115361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115361
Kim, K. A., Inoue, Y., & Kim, K. (2025). Observed coach incivility and bystander student-athlete well-being: moderating and mediating effects of schadenfreude and competition. Sport Management Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2025.2574757
Kumai, T., Yoshida, M., Inoue, Y., Gordon, B. S., & Biscaia, R. (2025). A multidimensional scale for assessing sport fan well-being: an examination in the context of professional baseball. Managing Sport and Leisure, 30(6), 1267-1283. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2024.2392567