Matthew Ruiz
Exercise and Nutrition Science
Director of Exercise and Human Performance Program
Biography
Matthew Ruiz joined the Lipscomb faculty in 2015 as an associate professor of kinesiology. Prior to joining Lipscomb, he served as a tenured faculty member, department chair, and 2015 Professor of the Year at Huntington University (Indiana) from 2006-2015. At Lipscomb, he was appointed Director of Graduate Studies in Exercise & Nutrition Science in 2017 and was promoted to the rank of Professor and tenured in 2019. He served as the Presidential Faculty Fellow during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Dr. Ruiz has conducted applied sport and performance psychology consultation since 2001 with coaches, athletes, parents/family of athletes, sport medicine professionals, sport teams, exercise participants & leaders, and business & academic professionals on topics such as anxiety & arousal management, communication, concentration, confidence, conflict management, decision-making skills, goal setting, imagery, leadership, peak performance & flow, performance enhancement, feedback, positive reinforcement, staleness & burnout, psychology of injury/rehabilitation, motivation, relaxation, stress management, team building & cohesion, and teamwork. Ruiz became certified as a performance coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) in 2021.
His research interests include the relationship between positive psychology and physical activity performance, and the relationship between Christianity and sport. Ruiz has recently presented papers at conferences around the country and internationally, including the Inaugural Global Congress on Sport & Christianity at York St. John University in York, UK on the psychotheology of losing, the American Psychological Association Convention and the Second Global Congress on Sport & Christianity on race, religion, and college sports. His writings have been published in journals such as Current Orthopaedic Practice, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, and the Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure, & Sport Studies.
Ruiz is an active member of the American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), Association for Applied Sport Psychology, International Coaching Federation, and the Christian Society of Kinesiology, Leisure & Sport Studies (CSKLS), where he served as a board member (2011-2015), president (2015-2017), treasurer (2019-current), and conference host (2017, 2021).
Academic Degrees
M.B.A. (2018) Lipscomb University; Concentration: Leadership
Ph.D. (2008) University of Minnesota; Major: Kinesiology, Emphasis: Sport Psychology
M.S. (2002) Springfield College; Major: Exercise Science and Sport Studies, Emphasis: Sport Psychology
B.S. (1999) Lipscomb University; Majors: Athletic Training, Exercise Science
Academic Department
Department of Kinesiology; College of Health Sciences
- KIN 4003: Administration of Exercise-Related Programs
- KIN 2013: Sport Sociology
- KIN 2023: Sport & Exercise Psychology
- KIN 5000: Orientation
- KIN 5001: Organizational Behavior I: Philosophy & Ethics
- KIN 5021: Organizational Behavior II: Entrepreneurship
- KIN 5041: Organizational Behavior III: Financial Considerations
- KIN 6503: Behavior Change I: Exercise
- KIN 6513: Behavior Change II: Sport Performance
- KIN 6523: Behavior Change III: Sociological Perspectives
- KIN 6900: Comprehensive Exams
- KIN 6953: Portfolio I
- KIN 6963: Portfolio II
His research interests include the relationship between positive psychology and physical activity performance, and the relationship between Christianity and sport. Ruiz has recently presented papers at conferences around the country and internationally, including the Inaugural Global Congress on Sport & Christianity at York St. John University in York, UK on the psychotheology of losing, the American Psychological Association Convention and the Second Global Congress on Sport & Christianity on race, religion, and college sports. His writings have been published in journals such as Current Orthopaedic Practice, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, and the Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure, & Sport Studies.
- Haynes, J. T., Townsend, J. R., Aziz, M. A., Jones, M. D., Littlefield, L. A., Ruiz, M. D., Johnson, K.D., Gonzalez, A.M. (In Review). Impact of Red Spinach Extract Supplementation on Bench Press Performance and Muscle Oxygenation in Resistance-Trained Males. Sports
- Toohey, J. C., Townsend, J. R., Johnson, S. B., Toy, A. M., Vantrease, W. C., Bender, D., Crimi, C. C., Stowers, K. L., Ruiz, M. D., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Feito, Y., Mangine, G. T. (2020). The effects of probiotic (bacillus subtilis) supplementation during offseason resistance training in female Division I athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34, 3173-3181.
- Franz, T. L., Van Matre, B. T., Palmer, T. S., & Ruiz, M. D. (2019). Seasonal changes in body composition in collegiate baseball players. Current Orthopaedic Practice, 30, 235-238.
- Henry, R. N., Ruiz, M. D., Vantrease, W. C., & Bender, D. (2019). Gender and BMI differences in body image among college freshmen. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 51(6), 904.
- Ruiz, M. D. (2017). A psychotheology of losing. Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure & Sport Studies, 4, 47-64.
- Frantz, T. L., & Ruiz, M. D. (2011). Effects of dynamic warm-up on lower body explosiveness among collegiate baseball payers. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 25, 2985-2990.
- Townsend, J. R., Haynes, J. T., Aziz, M. A., Jones, M. D., Littlefield, L. A., Ruiz, M. D., Johnson, K. D., & Gonzalez, A. M. (2021). Impact of red spinach supplementation on bench press and cognitive performance in resistance-trained males. Conference proceedings of the NSCA National Conference, Orlando, FL.
- Townsend, J. R., Haynes, J. T., Aziz, M. A., Jones, M. D., Littlefield, L. A., Ruiz, M. D., Johnson, K. D., & Gonzalez, A. M. (2021). Impact of dietary nitrate loading on muscle oxygenation during a fatiguing barbell bench press protocol. Conference proceedings of the ACSM Annual Meeting, Virtual.
- Ruiz, M. D. (2019). Race, religion, and college sports: Covert racism and lessons from a university’s recent dilemma. Conference proceedings of the Second Global Congress on Sport & Christianity, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI.
- Ruiz, M. D. (2019). Psychology of endurance running: What we know and what’s to come. In Health Sciences: Perspectives on Endurance Running: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Conference proceedings of the 2019 Christian Scholars Conference, Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, TX.
- Ruiz, M. D. (2018). A conversation on race, religion, and college sports: Lessons from a university's recent dilemma. In Effects of Religiousness and Spirituality in High Pressure Contexts – Poverty, Prejudice, and Performance Symposium. Conference proceedings of the 2018 American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA.
- Ruiz, M. D. & Henry, R. (2018). The relationship between body composition, body image, and attitudes towards obesity. Conference proceedings of the 2018 Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, MI.
- Townsend, J. R., Toohey, J. C., Johnson, S. B., Crimmi, C. C., Stowers, K. L., Bender W. D., Vantrease W. C., Toy A. M., Ruiz M. D., VanDusseldorp T. A., Fieto Y., & Mangine G. T. (2018). The effect of probiotic supplementation on body composition, muscle thickness, and athletic performance in Division I collegiate athletes. Conference proceedings of the 2018 International Society of Sport Nutrition (ISSN) Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
- Ruiz, M. D., Robichaud, K., & Townsend, J. (2017). The differences in attitudes towards obesity between Christian teenagers and Christian adults. Conference proceedings of the 2017 Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies Annual Conference, Nashville, TN.
- Ruiz, M. D. (2016). A psychotheology of losing. Conference proceedings of the Inaugural Global Congress on Sport & Christianity, York, United Kingdom.
- Egli, T. & Ruiz, M. D. (2016). Integrating Christianity into the sport psychology classroom: Practical applications. Conference proceedings of the 2016 Christian Society for Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Annual Conference, Santa Barbara, CA.
- Ruiz, M. D. & Egli, T. (2016). Expectations and Christian-athletes: What happens when our favorite Bible verses work against us? Conference proceedings of the 2016 Christian Society for Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Annual Conference, Santa Barbara, CA.
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Ruiz, M. D., & Schools, J. (2023). The ethical implications of AI in kinesiology: A Christian perspective. Conference proceedings of the 2023 Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies Annual Conference, Rocklin, CA.
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Mauldin, A. & Ruiz, M. D. (2023). Exploring the mental health of Christian athletes. Conference proceedings of the 2023 Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies Annual Conference, Rocklin, CA.
