Joshua A. Gordon brings over 30 years of experience as a conflict management professional, combining world-class practitioner expertise with academic rigor. As Principal and Senior Practitioner of the Sports Conflict Institute, he leads crisis management, organizational transformation, and dispute resolution for professional leagues, NCAA institutions, and international sports federations. His dual role as University of Oregon Faculty Athletics Representative and Professor of Practice bridges the critical gap between sports governance theory and real-world application. His unique position as an arbitrator on multiple international panels—including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), FIFA, Major League Baseball, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee—provides unparalleled insight into high-stakes sports disputes at every level of competition.
As founder of the Sports Conflict Institute, Mr. Gordon specializes in building organizational negotiation capability and preventing destructive conflict in sports organizations. He has successfully guided teams and leagues from collegiate through professional levels, including work with the NCAA, NBA, NFL, MLS, MLB, USATF, USTA, PGA, LPGA, and ATP. His expertise encompasses crisis management, Title IX compliance, SafeSport implementation, collective bargaining, and organizational culture transformation. Through SCI, he has developed cutting-edge tools and methodologies that are now standard practice in sports conflict resolution, including the Play-By-Play Model™, Outside the Box/Inside the Ring™, and Sports Conflict Observations Tools (SCOTs)™.
A published author of two influential books—Strategic Negotiation: Building Organizational Excellence (2023) and The Sports Playbook: Building Teams that Outperform Year After Year (2018)—Mr. Gordon continues to shape the field through his teaching, research, and direct intervention in complex multi-party disputes. His approach combines systemic assessment, evidence-based intervention, and sustainable capability building to create lasting positive change in sports organizations worldwide.
International Panels & Arbitration Appointments
- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – International Arbitrator, Football List and General List (2019-Present)
- Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) – FIFA Mediator, Football Tribunal (2022-Present)
- Major League Baseball (MLB/MLBPA) – Salary Arbitrator (2023-Present)
- United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) – Arbitrator (2023-Present)
- United States Soccer Federation (USSF) – Grievance Arbitrator (2025-Present)
- United States Track & Field Association (USATF) – Chair, SafeSport Appeals Panel (2021-Present)
Professional Experience
Current Leadership Positions
Principal and Senior Practitioner
Sports Conflict Institute LLC | 2013-Present
Founded institute to support sports organizations through crisis management, organizational culture transformation, Title IX compliance, and high-stakes dispute resolution. Clients include professional leagues, NCAA institutions, and international sports federations.
Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)
University of Oregon Office of the President | 2021-Present
Leading university oversight of athletic compliance, student-athlete welfare, and NCAA governance. Member of NCAA DI Committee on Infractions, Big Ten Legislative Committee, and FARA Executive Committee.
Woodard Family Foundation Fellow, Professor of Practice of Sports Business and Law
University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business | 2013-Present
Teaching MBA and undergraduate courses in negotiation, sports law, and sports business. Advising doctoral dissertations and honors theses on sports governance and conflict resolution.
Editorial Board Member, North America
LawInSport | 2018-Present
Contributing expert analysis and commentary on legal developments in sport, focusing on North American sports law and governance issues.
Selected Previous Experience
Director, Competition Not Conflict Program
University of Oregon School of Law | 2010-2013
Built nationally recognized program in sports conflict management, transitioning from single donor to diverse revenue streams while creating academic programming for 1,300+ students.
Principal and Senior Practitioner
Part of the Solution ADR Services | 1993-2010
Founded successful consulting company specializing in organizational negotiation capability, achieving 95% success rate in mediated disputes and securing multimillion dollar savings for Fortune 500 clients.
Organizational Change Leader
Manulife Financial / John Hancock | 1998-2005
Led workforce reengineering and process optimization, transforming project success rate from 35% to 95% through quality assurance and organizational capability building.
Areas of Expertise
- Sports Arbitration & Mediation (CAS, FIFA, MLB, USOPC)
- NCAA Compliance & Governance
- Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Leadership
- SafeSport Implementation & Appeals
- Title IX Compliance & Crisis Management
- Collective Bargaining in Professional Sports
- Strategic Negotiation & Capability Building
- Organizational Conflict Resolution Systems
- Team Culture & Performance Optimization
- Sports Law & Business Strategy
- Reputational Risk Management
- Multi-Party Dispute Facilitation
Academic Credentials & Teaching
Education
- Juris Doctor – Suffolk University Law School
Client Counseling Competition and Negotiation Competition Finalist; Specialized in Employment and Labor Law, Sports Law, and ADR - Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution – University of Massachusetts Boston
- Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution – University of Massachusetts Boston
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Sociology – University of Massachusetts Amherst/Brandeis University
Certificate in Criminal Justice - Professional Designations – Certified Quality Analyst (CQA), Certified DISC Assessor
Current Teaching (University of Oregon)
MBA Courses:
- Negotiation (2023-Present)
- Legal Aspects of Sports Business (2015-Present)
- Business Negotiation, Oregon Executive MBA (2019-Present)
Undergraduate Courses:
- Law & Sports Business (2015-Present)
- Negotiation Strategies (2022-Present)
Law School:
- Arbitration (2025)
- Faculty Advisor, Sports & Entertainment Law Forum (2024-Present)
- Faculty Advisor, NFL Negotiation Competition (2024-Present)
Publications & Thought Leadership
Books
- Strategic Negotiation: Building Organizational Excellence (Routledge, June 2023)
Co-authored with Gary Furlong – Comprehensive framework for building negotiation capability in organizations - The Sports Playbook: Building Teams that Outperform Year After Year (Routledge, March 2018)
Co-authored with Gary Furlong and Ken Pendleton – Systems approach to building high-performance team cultures
Selected Articles & Papers
- “Do you have what you need to keep up with the evolving FAR role?” – RealResponse (November 2023)
- “Sports Law in 2023 – Year in review & What to Watch North America” – LawInSport (January 2023)
- “The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict” – ACResolution Magazine (November 2013)
- “Negotiation for Engineers” – Mechanical Engineering (March 2011)
- “Building Trust in Corporate Communication: Candor, Conversation, and Commitment” – Contingencies (November 2007)
Recent Speaking & Media
- Keynote: “The Cost of Conflict In Sports: From Liability to Opportunity” – Anderson University (March 2024)
- Presenter: “The FAR Consultant: Empowering Student-Athlete Success” – FARA Annual Meeting (2024)
- Panelist: “Changing landscape of collegiate athletics” – Iowa Ideas (2024)
- Panelist: “Mediation of sports-related disputes” – International Bar Association (November 2023)
- Host: SCI TV – YouTube channel discussing sports conflict with industry guests (2013-Present)
Notable Achievements & Recognition
- James E. Reinmuth MBA Teaching Excellence Award (2023-24)
- Top 30 Sports Law Expert – Sportslawexpert.com (2023)
- National Football Foundation Faculty Athletics Representative Honoree (2023 & 2024)
- NCAA FARA Newcomer of the Year Award Nominee (2022-23)
- Juliana Sowash Excellence In Oregon Executive MBA Teaching Award (2022-2023)
- University of Oregon Office of the Provost Book Publication Award (2023)
- Woodard Family Foundation Fellow (2019-Present)
- Established one of the first sports ombuds programs in the United States
- 95% success rate in mediated disputes across commercial, workplace, and multi-party conflicts
- Secured multimillion dollar savings for Fortune 500 clients through negotiation capability building
Current Professional Service & Leadership
- NCAA DI Committee on Infractions (COI) (2024-Present)
- Big Ten Legislative Committee (2024-Present)
- NCAA FARA Executive Committee (2022-Present)
- Big Ten Joint Group Governance Member (2023-Present)
- Pac-12 Council Executive Committee President (2023-24)
- University of Oregon Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee (2021-Present)
- UO Student-Athlete Behavioral Health Management Team (2021-Present)
- Sports Law Arbitration Moot International Arbitrator and Judge (2021-Present)
- Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (2011-Present)
- Clark Honors College Thesis Advisor (2011-Present)
Speaking & Consulting Topics
Joshua Gordon is available for keynote speaking, workshops, expert testimony, and strategic consulting on:
- Building Negotiation Capability in Sports Organizations
- The Evolving Role of the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)
- International Sports Arbitration and Mediation Best Practices
- Preventing and Managing Destructive Team Conflict
- NCAA Governance, Compliance, and the Future of College Athletics
- SafeSport Implementation and Athlete Welfare Systems
- Title IX Crisis Management and Prevention
- Creating High-Performance Team Cultures in Sport
- Strategic Planning for Athletic Departments
- Collective Bargaining in Professional Sports
- The Cost of Conflict in Sports: From Liability to Opportunity
Athletic Achievements
Former competitive DIII and DI distance runner with five Masters National Championships and three North American Gold Medals. Competed in 30+ college cross country seasons with consistent All-American performances. Previous sponsorships from 2XU, Injinji, Saucony, MGD64, and Compex. Named Bowerman Track Club Male Masters Runner of the Year (2017). Currently competes with the University of Oregon Running Club and Bowerman Track Club with consistent top 1% finishes in the mile, 3K, 5K, and 10K distances.
Joshua A. Gordon, JD, MA
Principal & Senior Practitioner | Sports Conflict Institute
Faculty Athletics Representative & Professor of Practice | University of Oregon
Connect & Learn More
Leverage world-class expertise in sports arbitration, conflict resolution, strategic negotiation, and organizational excellence.
Sports Conflict Institute | Portland, Oregon | jgordon@sportsconflict.org