Education

Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 2011
M.S., Texas A&M University, 2008
B.S., Texas A&M University, 2006

Background

Khalid Ballouli serves as an associate professor, associate department chair and Ph.D. program director in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina. Originally from Austin, Texas, he completed his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in sport management at Texas A&M University.

Ballouli’s research interests are in the area of sport consumer behavior, with a particular focus on sensory branding, stadium atmospherics and sports collectibles. He has published numerous research articles appearing in peer-reviewed journals including Journal of Sport Management, Sport Management Review and Sport Marketing Quarterly. Ballouli has supported much of his work by serving as principal investigator for several grant projects, securing nearly half a million dollars in research funding from national and international organizations such as Circuit of The Americas, FC Cincinnati, and the Southeastern Conference. In recognition of his excellence in research, Ballouli was named a research fellow by the Sport Marketing Association in 2022. He is also a recipient of the Patricia G. Moody Distinguished Researcher Award, the highest faculty recognition the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management awards for research and scholarship.

Ballouli has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to teaching and service. He received the Garnet Apple Teaching Innovation Award from the University of South Carolina in 2024, acknowledging his innovative approaches to education. Additionally, Ballouli was honored with the Outstanding Service Award from the Sport Marketing Association, following his impactful tenure as the organization's elected vice president and president.

Before joining the University of South Carolina, Ballouli spent six years in professional baseball as a pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system, during which time he gained first-hand knowledge of the professional sports industry. He played college baseball at Texas A&M University, where he received numerous honors including team captain, Big 12 All-Conference and NCAA All-Tournament. Ballouli remains active in his community by helping youth baseball organizations foster athlete and community development and often lends his time and expertise to researchers and educators in this field. He and his wife, Jessica, have four children: Farrah, Zaki, Maya and Zayn.

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In the Media

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2023

• Major League Baseball rules aim for shorter games — and a bigger audience: Marketplace
• For Major League Baseball, shorter games and more action have drawn bigger crowds: Marketplace
• Interview with Professor Khalid Ballouli: SportsDegreesOnline.org

2022

• NBA Players Are Acting Up Despite $36 Million in Fines. Here’s Why: Bloomberg

2020

•  Like grandfather, like grandson: Ballouli followed Canadian no-hit throwing grandfather Dick Fowler into professional baseball: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

2017

• American dreamer: One of the few Muslims to play pro baseball discusses what the band and the United States mean to him. (Published Editorial: Sports Illustrated

2014

• Derek Jeter memorabilia and jersey sales part of season-long marketing campaign, farewell tour: International Business Times

2013

• Why aren’t there more Muslims playing in professional baseball? Fangraphs

Awards / Honors

• Garnet Apple Teaching Innovation Award, University of South Carolina (2024)
• Presidential Service Award, Sport Marketing Association (2021)
• Research Fellow, Sport Marketing Association (2019)
• Pipeline for Academic Leaders (PAL) Fellow, University of South Carolina (2017)
• Patricia G. Moody Research and Scholarship Award, College of HRSM (2016)
• Outstanding Service Award, Sport Marketing Association (2014)

Research Interests

• Sport marketing
• Sport consumer behavior
• Sensory branding
• Stadium atmospherics
• Sports collectibles

Courses Taught

• SPTE 380 – Sport and Entertainment Marketing
• SPTE 655 – Social Media in Live Sport and Entertainment
• SPTE 760 – Principles of Sport and Entertainment Marketing
• HRSM 788 – Business Research and Analytics
• HRSM 888 – Research Design

Recent Publications

Hwang, Y., & Ballouli, K. (in press). Musical congruity in sports: Enhancing team branding in esports and traditional sports. Sport Management Review, 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2024.2404722

Kim, S.*, Grady, J., & Ballouli, K. (in press). Navigating emerging trademarks issues for sport brands in the metaverse. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSMS-04-2023-0061

Gao, F.*, Heere, B., Hwang, Y., & Ballouli, K. (2024). The dark side of national team identity: Ethnocentrism and xenophobia. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2024.2320647

Kazmierski-Davie, G.*, & Ballouli, K. (2024). Identity dynamics in collegiate Olympic athletes post-Tokyo 2020: A pre-post study. Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, 17(1), 77-97. https://doi.org/10.17161/jis.v17i1.21130

Hwang, Y., Ballouli, K., Bernthal, M., & Choi, W. (2024). Making sense of stadium stimuli-local image fit in the sport venue: Mediating effects of sense of home and touristic experience on home and visiting spectators. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 33, 47-65. https://doi.org/10.32731/SMQ.331.032024.04

Pedo Lopes, A.*, Ballouli, K., & Mihalik, B. (2023). Push – pull analysis of motocross and supercross athletes’ migration to the U.S. Sport in Society, 27(3), 438-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2023.2279635

Nite, C., Ballouli, K., & Naughright, J. (2023). Illegitimately pursuing legitimacy: Critical conversations of sport mega events hosting and bidding. Sport in Society, 27(2), 228-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2023.2183120

Bernthal, M.J., Ballouli, K., & Nugent, N. (2022). Toward a better understanding of parent versus local team branding in minor league baseball. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 31(1), 3-15. http://doi.org/10.32731/SMQ.311.0322.01

* Denotes graduate student

Professional Affiliations

• North American Society for Sport Management
• Sport Marketing Association