CSP Kinesiology & Sport Management Programs

What does it take to train the best of the best? 💪

For USMC veteran Dr. Michael Richards, it takes a passion for helping others reach their physical and mental potential—and a commitment to lifelong learning.

After getting his Master's at Concordia University, St. Paul, Michael knew he wanted to go further. But as a full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach working with military special forces and professional football players, his schedule was anything but "normal."

That’s where CSP’s 100% online, self-paced EdD in Kinesiology came in. The flexibility allowed him to earn his doctorate while actively working hands-on with his athletes. Today, he’s not only keeping pilots safe from G-force impacts at Lackland Air Force Base, but he’s also giving back by mentoring the next generation of S&C coaches online.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Richards on his incredible journey! Read his full spotlight here: https://hubs.li/Q04lgb2B0

From training youth athletes to optimizing performance for Air Force fighter pilots! ✈️🏈 We are so incredibly proud of Summer 2025 graduate Dr. Michael Richards. Click below to read how he used his EdD in Kinesiology from Concordia University, St. Paul to take his coaching career to the highest possible level! 👇

https://hubs.li/Q04ldB6K0

"Be vulnerable, tell your support system when you are struggling. Know that your chair is shaping you into the better version of yourself, and they see who you can become." 💙

We love this powerful advice from Dr. Nicole Hodges, a Summer 2025 graduate of our PhD in Kinesiology program! Going back to school as a working adult is a big decision, and having a "tribe" to support you is everything.

At Concordia University, St. Paul, we strive to be part of that support system. We built our online Kinesiology doctorate with working professionals in mind—no GRE required, 8-week classes, and faculty who truly care about your success and your research passions. For Nicole, that meant getting the support she needed to research Vulvodynia and chronic pelvic pain, filling a massive gap in medical literature.

If you’ve been thinking about taking the next step in your career, let Nicole’s story be your inspiration.

Read more about her journey: https://hubs.li/Q04jrC1Z0

Taking her skills across the globe! 🌎 We are so proud of CSP Kinesiology PhD student Dr. Nicole Hodges, who recently returned from a medical mission trip to Cusco, Peru, serving communities as a physical therapist.

Read about her amazing journey and research: https://hubs.li/Q04jrK1v0

Dr. Nicole Hodges is on a mission to change lives for patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain. 💙 Learn how she used CSP Global’s flexible, online PhD in Kinesiology to conduct groundbreaking research while continuing to teach full-time!

Read her inspiring story here: https://hubs.li/Q04jpqFQ0

What does it mean to be a "struggler"? For Dr. Brennan Sweet, it means facing challenges head-on and refusing to give in. 💯

Brennan brings this exact philosophy to his business, Struggler Strength, where he helps military service members, firefighters, and police officers overcome pain and restore their motion. He also brings this compassion to his clinical work in pulmonary rehab, ensuring patients are strong enough for major surgeries.

To take his expertise to the highest level, Brennan enrolled in CSP Global’s online PhD in Kinesiology program. The flexibility allowed him to balance his demanding career with world-class doctoral research.

"My favorite part of the experience was being able to defend against world-class people within my field," he says. "It was really humbling and gave me a new frame of mind."

We are so proud of the work you are doing, Dr. Sweet!

Read more about his inspiring journey: https://hubs.li/Q04jrHjT0

Thinking about a doctorate but worried you don't have the time? 🕒 Dr. Brennan Sweet chose CSP Global because our 100% online Kinesiology program let him keep working full-time and growing his business.

Read his advice for future students: https://hubs.li/Q04jrGgn0

Meet the definition of grit! 💪 Dr. Brennan Sweet earned his PhD in Kinesiology online at CSP Global while running his own strength business AND working full-time in a hospital rehab facility.

See how he made it happen: https://hubs.li/Q04jrHvW0

"Do no harm, fill buckets that aren't filled, and train smart, train hard." 💪

This is the philosophy that drives Dr. Jordan Sorensen every single day as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bemidji State University Athletics.

It’s also the mindset that helped him successfully navigate the 100% online EdD in Kinesiology program at Concordia University, St. Paul!

Jordan didn't just want a degree; he wanted to find better ways to serve his athletes.

For his dissertation, he researched the impact of Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) on heart rate recovery in college basketball players.

He found significant improvements, and now, he applies that exact academic research directly to his collegiate athletes on the court.

That is what the CSP Global EdD is all about—applying research to solve real-world problems.

Read Dr. Sorensen's full Student Spotlight here: https://hubs.li/Q04hyNYl0

Sometimes, our biggest setbacks lead to our greatest callings.

During his sophomore year of high school, Jordan Sorensen suffered a knee injury.

His school didn't have a strength coach, so his physical therapist suggested strength training for his recovery.

That single suggestion sparked a lifelong passion.

Today, Dr. Jordan Sorensen is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bemidji State University Athletics and a Spring 2025 graduate of the EdD in Kinesiology program at Concordia University, St. Paul!

Jordan always knew he wanted the option to teach at the university level alongside his coaching career.

He chose CSP Global because of the incredible support from faculty and the flexibility to continue working full-time while earning his doctorate.

We are so proud of the impact Dr. Sorensen is making on his student-athletes.

Read more about his inspiring journey and his fascinating research on heart rate recovery: https://hubs.li/Q04hyRhJ0