Ph.D., Indiana University

M.S., Indiana University

B.A., University of North Dakota

 

 

Dr. Thomas Orr joined Northern State University's faculty in 2011. He is the professor for sport marketing and administration and head of the NSU Health and Physical Education Department. He previously was a visiting professor for Indiana University and research associate for the Center for Sport Policy & Conduct.

 

Dr. Orr has had extensive experience as a player, official, supervisor, coach and sport administrator in numerous sports. He was assistant intramural director for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic department, where he also completed a B.A. in history with minors in recreation and leisure services, economics, and athletic coaching.

 

As an athlete, Dr. Orr competed in the Canadian junior hockey leagues before playing college hockey for the Hoosiers. After playing several seasons for Indiana, he joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach and helped lead the team to a national title game. After being selected as a coach for the ACHA Division 1 All Star game in his second season as head coach and fifth season coaching for the cream and crimson, Dr. Orr joined NSU as a tenure track professor. He also coaches the youth teams of his four children.

 

Dr. Orr is a director for Pro Ambitions hockey and leads several Midwest youth camps for the Boston Bruins. He also coached for two high school hockey teams; the 26-time N.D. state champion Grand Forks Central Knights, and as volunteer coach for the Bloomington Blades high school team. He has also spent six consecutive summers working as a correctional officer in the North Dakota State Penitentiary, where he observed a wide variety of violence, often relating to inmates' leisure time. Dr. Orr's publication list is highlighted by his 2009 textbook Sport and Violence; A Critical Examination of Sport, published by Elsevier in London. He has several academic articles published and is completing an event-planning textbook, to be published by Cognella. He has been a returning guest on Huffpost Live and has provided many other media outlets with sport expertise.