Dr. Matt Bowers

Biography

Matt Bowers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011 and has extensive experience in the field of Sport Management. Bowers graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Sport Management from the University of Florida in 2005 and 2007, respectively. His research focuses on management systems for athlete development and how different sport settings can influence performance and participation across the lifespan. He has a particular interest in reimagining youth sports experiences, emphasizing the developmental role of unstructured sports settings such as sandlot and pickup games, as well as the impact of sports video games on shaping children's experiences. Bowers has published various research studies examining the effects of sport participation on creativity, the value of unstructured sports, and youth sport development in the United States. He has been featured in notable publications including Sports Illustrated and the Wall Street Journal. Bowers lives in Austin with his wife Lauren and their son Samson.

Research Interests

Experience