front entrance of Huff Hall

Faculty Profile

Matthew Haugen

Matthew Haugen, Ph.D.

Matthew Haugen was a Fulbright Scholar in the Kinesiology Cultural, Interpretive, and Science Studies Program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, from which he obtained a Ph.D. in 2021. His current research interest is sport development in China and examines how transnationalism has impacted the concept of a student-athlete in the country. He believes a paradigm shift is occurring in Chinese values that allow for a more holistic understanding of learning that incorporates both mind and body. Haugen is committed to promoting sports systems that allow athletics and academics to be part of a student’s developmental pathway.  Haugen has extensive work experience both in China and the United States as a professional and collegiate tennis coach. In the US he has coached at NCAA Div. 1 and 3 schools, for high caliber programs including Denison, Boise State and Trinity (TX). He also previously worked as the Head Tennis Coach in Hebei Province for the Chinese government Olympic development program. While in China, he completed a M.Ed. in Education, Physical Education Pedagogy, from Boise State University. His undergraduate degree is in Political Science from Kenyon College, where he excelled as a student-athlete participating for the universities nationally ranked tennis program.