Dr. Rich Engelhorn is an Associate Professor and is the director of coaching education and undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Health and Human Performance at Iowa State University. He teaches courses in coaching theory, health fitness management, and sport management. Dr. Engelhorn is in his 22st year at Iowa State University.
Dr. Engelhorn has considerable experience with youth sport administration and coaching, international youth and school sport programs, and experience with Malaysia and Malaysian youth and school sport programs.
Youth Sport Experience - For the past 21 years, the Dr. Engelhorn has directed the Iowa State University Summer Youth Fitness Program, which he also founded. The day camp provides children 5-12 years of age experiences in a wide range of sport and fitness activities. He served on the Ames Youth Softball Association Board for six years, coached youth soccer, softball, basketball, and volleyball in both club and community based programs for over 16 years, was district representative to the regional United States Volleyball Association board of directors, and was an initial board member of the Central Iowa Heart Volleyball Association. Dr. Engelhorn has also researched issues related to youth sport rules and participation opportunities, youth coaching techniques, and parent-coach expectations. The latter research is being presented at the SUKMA National Conference in Malaysia on May 22 and 23, 2004.
International Sport Experience --Dr. Engelhorn served in the Peace Corps in Antigua, West Indies from 1969-1973 as a teacher and sport director for the islandÕs schools. He founded and organized the Antigua Schools Soccer and Netball Leagues and initiated inter-island track and field competitions in the Leeward Island group. All programs were operated without significant funding and with volunteer coaches and administrators. He also served on the board of directors as a youth representative for the Antigua Netball Association, the Antigua Soccer Association, and the Antigua Athletics Association.
Malaysia Experiences - Dr. Engelhorn was a member of an Iowa AAU Malaysia-US youth sport management exchange funded by the US Department of State, Bureau of Cultural Affairs in 2003. He researched Malaysian sport programs and conducted an afternoon seminar "Encouraging the development of youth sport in Malaysia." A two week trip to Malaysia followed in which he and other members of the group met with officials of the Olympic Council of Malaysia and other national-level sport groups.
In March 2006 Dr. Engelhorn was once again part of a US Department of State grant program working with the Olympic Council of Malaysia. On this two week trip he provided workshops on training programs for volunteer youth sport coaches and conducted netball clinics for elementary school children at two sites in Terengganu. He also hosted twelve Malaysian sports officials for a one day seminar at ISU during the US part of the 2006 exchange program.
Malaysia National Olympic Academy (NOA) Activities
As a result of the first visit to Malaysia in 2003, Iowa State University was invited to send two students each of the past three years to the National Olympic Academy held each March in Kuala Lumpur. As the ISU part of this exchange program, Dr. Engelhorn hosted two representatives of the NOA in Iowa during September 2005.
Study Abroad Planning Trip - During May, 2004 Dr. Engelhorn visited Malaysia for two weeks to present a research paper at a conference at INTI College and to plan and prepare for the upcoming study abroad course. Dr. Engelhorn traveled within Malaysia and to Singapore during these two weeks in order to develop an agenda for the course and to develop relationships with Malaysian sport administrators who will make presentations to the students during the study abroad course. Arrangements for travel, accommodations, and dining were accomplished during this visit.
Study Abroad Program in May 2005 - During May 2005, Dr. Engelhorn, Dr. Engelhorn's wife Deb, Cindy Frederickson (HHP academic advisor), and six students traveled to Malaysia to complete the first "Sport and Culture in Malaysia" experience. The group spent 14 days in Malaysia and a day and a half in Singpore during the 16 day trip. visit.