Assistant Professor of Sport Management and Faculty Athletic Representative
B.S., North Greenville University; M.S., Liberty University; Ph.D., Columbia International University
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Guiding Scripture:
“The one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.” — 1 John 2:6 (NASB)
Guiding Quote:
“If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavour, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.” — Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work
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Profile:
Dr. Joey Elledge grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. He holds a B.S. in Sport Management from North Greenville University, an M.S. in Sport Management from Liberty University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University. His academic and professional focus centers on integrating servant leadership, organizational health, and sport-based community engagement. He is passionate about preparing students to pursue God’s will for their lives with boldness and purpose.
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Publications:
- Dissertation: A Correlational Study of Employee Input on Servant Leadership Characteristics of Supervisors and the Organizational Culture of U.S. Park and Recreation Organizations (2021)
- The 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox: Grinders and Gamers (Book, SABR, 2024)
- Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs (Book, SABR, 2024)
- Dodger Stadium: Blue Heaven on Earth (Book, SABR, 2024)
- Conference Presentation: Sport Promotions in the Context of the Los Angeles Dodgers – Liberty University Sport Leadership Summit (November 2024)
Ongoing Projects:
- The 2001 Seattle Mariners: Baseball’s 116-Win Wonder (Book, SABR, forthcoming 2025)
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Minor League Sport – A study examining the community impact and strategic implementation of CSR initiatives across minor league and summer collegiate teams
- Bride Satisfaction with Wedding DJs: A Quantitative Study of Service Expectations, Communication, and Value Perception (in development)
- Faith-Integrated Business Case Studies for Undergraduate Classrooms – Multi-case series under construction for instructional and publication use
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Experience:
Dr. Elledge’s professional background spans collegiate athletics, nonprofit leadership, municipal recreation, church ministry, and sports technology:
- Lexington County Blowfish (Coastal Plain League) – community engagement and sport marketing initiatives
- Francis Marion University Athletics – roles in marketing, sponsorships, fundraising, and event coordination
- University of South Carolina Athletics – ticket office operations supporting fans and Gamecock Club members
- Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission – facility management and programming across parks
- The Blood Connection – Business Development Manager, leading a team of account managers and overseeing external marketing, public relations, and community partnerships
- Snap! Mobile – Customer Success Manager for the Snap! Raise platform, helping athletic programs with digital fundraising
- Harvest Church (Lexington, S.C.) – led the sport ministry, overseeing programs that connected recreation with spiritual development
He has also taught sport management at Lander University, North Greenville University, and Columbia International University.
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Professional Memberships:
- Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
- Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA)
- Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure & Sport Studies (CSKLS)
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Personal Interests:
Dr. Elledge is an active member of Christ the King Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Lexington, S.C.
He and his wife, Katie, enjoy camping and time outdoors with their three dogs—Sammy, Darla, and Boone. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he proudly supports the Chicago Cubs, South Carolina Gamecocks, Carolina Panthers, and NASCAR.
