Biography
Dr. Connors is an academic and practitioner with a deep-rooted passion for sport, leadership, and organisational culture. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and a Master’s in Business Management, where his thesis examined leadership practices contributing to successful sports management within the GAA’s Hurling Championship. His academic journey culminated in a PhD in Organisation Studies, entitled “Glimpsing the Alternative: An Anthropological Exploration of the GAA as an Alternative Organisation.” This doctoral work offered a unique lens on the cultural and organisational dynamics of one of Ireland’s most distinctive sporting bodies.
Blending academic expertise with applied experience, Dr. Connors has collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders across the sports sector. This includes National Governing Bodies, player representative organisations, and private sports enterprises, where he has advised on leadership development, governance, strategic planning, and organisational change. His applied research interests centre on how values, identity, and tradition shape organisational life, particularly within community-driven and member-led environments.
Dr. Connors is also a regular media contributor, offering expert commentary and insights on sports governance and culture to both national and international broadcasters. His ability to translate complex academic concepts into accessible insights has made him a valued voice in public discussions around sport, identity, and leadership.
Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or the broadcast studio, Dr. Connors is committed to bridging the gap between theory and practice—ensuring that scholarship informs real-world decision-making in the ever-evolving landscape of sport and organisational life.
My teaching spans a range of interconnected areas within business and sport management. I specialise in Organisation Studies, with a focus on how culture, identity, and structure shape organisational behaviour. I also teach Management and Leadership, exploring both traditional and contemporary approaches to leading people and teams. My modules in Organisational Change and Strategy examine how organisations adapt and plan in complex environments. Additionally, I contribute to teaching in Event Management and Governance, particularly within sport, emphasising the practical and ethical considerations that underpin effective planning, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making across community, commercial, and elite sport settings.
My research focuses on Organisation Studies, leadership, and change, exploring how values, culture, and identity shape strategic decisions. I also examine governance and event management in sport, with particular interest in alternative organisational models and the dynamics of power, performance, and participation across different sporting contexts.