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. Prior to this, 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 aims to create and disseminate knowledge that empowers the sport industry to effectively manage its social impact on individual and community well-being. He has published more than 80 journal articles, book chapters, and commissioned research reports in pursuit of this agenda.
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
Recent Publications
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
Portaluri, G., Lock, D., Inoue, Y., Mura, R., & Vicentini, F. (2025). Unveiling the emotional edge: how fans’ emotional attachment influences the relationships between fanship, fandom, subjective well-being, and attitudinal loyalty. Sport Management Review, 28(4), 796-822. https://doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2025.2513100
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
Downward, P., Inoue, Y., Kumar, H., & Widdop, P. (2024). The locality challenges facing the ‘levelling up’ of sport participation and health inequality in England. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 17(2), 327-344. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2024.2404949