DR. GEORGE
M. DE MARCO, JR.
Upon completion of his bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical
Education at Bridgewater State College, in 1978, Dr. De Marco taught
Adapted Physical Education in Massachusetts until 1981. Upon returning
to his native New York, he taught public school physical education
while coaching soccer, ice hockey, and baseball at scholastic and
collegiate levels. After receiving his Master’s degree from
Ithaca College in 1992, Dr. De Marco accepted a Teaching-Research
Assistantship at the University of Georgia, where he completed his
Doctorate in Physical Education in 1998.
Dr. De Marco is currently an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the
Physical Education Teacher Preparation Program at the University of
Dayton. Since joining the UD faculty in 1997, he has taught
undergraduate and graduate courses in Physical Education, Health,
Educational Research Methodology, History of Physical Education and
Sport, supervised student teachers, and coordinated community based
programs in adapted-, elementary-, and secondary-physical education
that serve children from Dayton area parochial and public schools.
Earlier in his career, Dr. De Marco also officiated, refereeing ice
hockey and umpiring baseball in professional-,
semi-professional/collegiate, scholastic, men’s, and youth leagues in
New York, Florida, and Massachusetts.
Focusing primarily on teaching-coaching effectiveness/expertise,
research methodology, and curricula that promote physical
activity-healthy lifestyles, Dr. De Marco has authored/co-authored over
25 peer-reviewed publications including research articles, book
chapters, position papers, scholarly reviews, and electronic media. He
has also made over 125 presentations at international, national,
regional, state, institutional, and local conferences, symposia,
workshops, and meetings. At the University of Dayton, he received the
Bro. Gerald O’ Neil Inspirational Educator Award in 2001 and 2009
and the School of Education and Allied Professions Award for Excellence
in Teaching in 2004. From his Alma Mater, Bridgewater State College, in
Massachusetts, Dr. De Marco received the Catherine E. Comeau Alumni
Award for Leadership and Achievement in Physical Education.
Dr. De Marco has served Vice-President for Higher Education of the Ohio
Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and
has been a member of OAHPERD's Advocacy and Diversity Committees. He is
also a member of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD); the Research Consortium and the
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) of
AAHPERD; the National Association for Sport and Physical Education;
National Association for Kinesiology and Physical Education in Higher
Education, (NAKPEHE) where he has served on the Social Justice and
Cultural Diversity Committee; and, the North American Society for
Sporty History (NASSH).
Dr. De Marco is married to his best friend, Carolyn Ridenour, truly a
saint and a scholar, who is also a professor at the University of
Dayton.