Robert Simon, the Marjorie and Robert W. McEwen Professor of Philosophy, has been named to the list of 100 Most Influential Sports Educators by the Institute for International Sport (IIS). Among other honorees are Andre Agassi, Tiger Woods, sportscaster Bob Costas and Duke University men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The list is a result of research conducted by Institute for International Sport executive director Dan Doyle for his book The Encyclopedia of Sport Parenting. Surveys of coaches and athletes found a common theme – the profound impact of the sports experience in shaping their views and practices regarding teamwork, self discipline, fair play, diversity and competitive self restraint. Many respondents also pointed to former coaches and athletic administrators as key mentors in their lives.
As a result, the Institute embarked upon a three year project – the selection of two categories of distinguished sports educators: The 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America and The 15 Most Influential Sports Education "Teams" in America. The criterion for selection in each category was the effective use of sport as a means to educate. The entire list may be viewed at http://www.internationalsport.com/top100Press.cfm.
"In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society," said Doyle. "This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations who have creatively and effectively used sport in the very best way – as a means to educate and shape positive values," he concluded.
Simon's area of interest is ethics in sports, including steroid use among athletes. A past Rockefeller Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities fellow, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has served as president of the Philosophic Society for the Study of Sport (now the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport). Simon was also a fellow at both the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (1975-76) at Stanford and the National Humanities Center in Research Triangle Park, N.C. (1981-82). He was the successful coach of the men's varsity golf team at Hamilton from 1986-2000, during which time his teams were often nationally ranked in Division III and represented Hamilton, either as a team or through individual qualifiers in five NCAA championships.
Simon is the author of Fair Play, (Westview Press) on sports and social values. He is also author (with Norman E. Bowie) of The Individual and the Political Order and Neutrality and the Academic Ethic, and editor of The Blackwell Guide to Political and Social Philosophy. Simon is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and sits on the editorial board for the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport. He was appointed the Marjorie and Robert W. McEwen Professor of Philosophy in July 2005.
The IIS was founded in 1986 and today remains guided by international leaders in the academic, business, government and athletic communities. The IIS has fostered an extraordinary number of global friendships through sport, culture and education, connecting tens of thousands of people. The organization's mission is: to promote and improve relations among nations, particularly in nations experiencing internal conflict; to encourage individual growth and the development of human potential in young scholars throughout the world; to develop global awareness in future world leaders; to develop a large network of Scholar-Athlete Games graduates who act as peace brokers in their respective communities and countries; to promote ethical behavior, good sportsmanship and good sports parenting on an international basis; to facilitate, among Institute alumni, a humanitarian approach in their actions as they develop as leaders; and to provide parents and sports educators with sound ideas they can employ when raising and teaching children who play sports.
The list is a result of research conducted by Institute for International Sport executive director Dan Doyle for his book The Encyclopedia of Sport Parenting. Surveys of coaches and athletes found a common theme – the profound impact of the sports experience in shaping their views and practices regarding teamwork, self discipline, fair play, diversity and competitive self restraint. Many respondents also pointed to former coaches and athletic administrators as key mentors in their lives.
As a result, the Institute embarked upon a three year project – the selection of two categories of distinguished sports educators: The 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America and The 15 Most Influential Sports Education "Teams" in America. The criterion for selection in each category was the effective use of sport as a means to educate. The entire list may be viewed at http://www.internationalsport.com/top100Press.cfm.
"In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society," said Doyle. "This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations who have creatively and effectively used sport in the very best way – as a means to educate and shape positive values," he concluded.
Simon's area of interest is ethics in sports, including steroid use among athletes. A past Rockefeller Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities fellow, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has served as president of the Philosophic Society for the Study of Sport (now the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport). Simon was also a fellow at both the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (1975-76) at Stanford and the National Humanities Center in Research Triangle Park, N.C. (1981-82). He was the successful coach of the men's varsity golf team at Hamilton from 1986-2000, during which time his teams were often nationally ranked in Division III and represented Hamilton, either as a team or through individual qualifiers in five NCAA championships.
Simon is the author of Fair Play, (Westview Press) on sports and social values. He is also author (with Norman E. Bowie) of The Individual and the Political Order and Neutrality and the Academic Ethic, and editor of The Blackwell Guide to Political and Social Philosophy. Simon is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and sits on the editorial board for the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport. He was appointed the Marjorie and Robert W. McEwen Professor of Philosophy in July 2005.
The IIS was founded in 1986 and today remains guided by international leaders in the academic, business, government and athletic communities. The IIS has fostered an extraordinary number of global friendships through sport, culture and education, connecting tens of thousands of people. The organization's mission is: to promote and improve relations among nations, particularly in nations experiencing internal conflict; to encourage individual growth and the development of human potential in young scholars throughout the world; to develop global awareness in future world leaders; to develop a large network of Scholar-Athlete Games graduates who act as peace brokers in their respective communities and countries; to promote ethical behavior, good sportsmanship and good sports parenting on an international basis; to facilitate, among Institute alumni, a humanitarian approach in their actions as they develop as leaders; and to provide parents and sports educators with sound ideas they can employ when raising and teaching children who play sports.
