Faculty & Staff

Phil Esposito

Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Undergraduate Program Director

Education

Ph.D., University of Michigan
MS, Missouri State University
BS, Truman State University

Courses Taught

KINE 10101 - Introduction to kinesiology
KINE 30423 - Motor development
KINE 30833 - Physical activity and disability
KINE 30843 - Neuromuscular pathophysiology
KINE 40103 - Senior seminar
KINE 40700 - Practicum in adapted physical activity
KINE 40793 - Senior research
KINE 40903 - Senior internship
NURS 30063 - Global perspective in health (Ireland)

Areas of Focus

Health and physical function in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Interventions targeting health & developmental disparities in individuals with intellectual disabilities

Askow, A. T., Lobato, A. L., Arndts, D. J., Jennings, W., Kreutzer, A., Erickson, J. L., Esposito, P.E., Oliver, J.M., & Jagim, A. R. (2021). Session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) Load and Training Impulse Are Strongly Correlated to GPS-Derived Measures of External Load in NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Athletes. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 6(4), 90.
Tometz, M.J., Jevas, S. A., Esposito, P. M., & Annaccone, A.R. (2020). Validation of Internal and External Load Metrics in NCAA D1 Women’s Beach Volleyball. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research.
Andrew T. A., Stone, J.D., Arndts, D.J., King, C.A., Goto, S., Hannon, J.P., Garrison, C., Bothwell, J.M., Esposito, P.E., Jagim, A.R., Jones, M.T., Jennings, W., Oliver, J.M. (2018). Validity and Reliability of a Commercially-Available Velocity and Power Testing Device. Sports, 6(4), 170.
MacDonald, M., Leichtman, J., Esposito, P., Cook, N., Ulrich, D.A. (2017). The Participation Patterns of Youth with Down Syndrome, Frontiers in Public Health: Child Health and Human Development
Hauck, J., Jeong, I., Esposito, P., MacDonald, M., Hornyak, J., Argento, A., & Ulrich, D. (2017). Benefits of Learning to Ride a Two-Wheeled Bicycle for Adolescents with Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. PALAESTRA
Esposito, P. & MacDonald, M. I., Hornyak, J. E., & Ulrich, D. A. (2012). Physical activity patterns of youth with Down syndrome. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 50(2), 109 – 119.

Marascio, C., & Esposito, P. (2023). Effects of Ballet & Dance Programs on Gross Motor Skills in Children With Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review. Poster presentation at the 2023 American Occupational Therapy Association Conference & Expo, Kansas City, Missouri

Falkenberg, A., Staples, K.L., Ulrich, D.A., & Esposito, P. (2022). Understanding Physical Activity Levels During Walking for Youth with Down syndrome. North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity

Clossick, L, & Esposito, P. (2022). The Association Between Motor Skills & Adaptive Skills in Individuals with Down syndrome. North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity

Warfield, E., Esposito, P., Rhea, D., & Trocchio, R. (2022). Differences Among Relaxation and Imagery Strategies in NCAA Division I Athletes. Oral presentation at the 2022 Annual Conference of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity.

Staples, K.L., Ketcheson, L.R., Esposito, P.M., Ulrich, D.A. (2022). Extending the TGMD-3 Normative Sample of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Oral presentation at the 2022 Annual Conference of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity.

Falkenberg, A., Staples, K., Young, A., & Esposito, P. (2021). Effectiveness Of Wii Fit Balance Training In Young Children With Down Syndrome. Oral presentation at the 5th International Motor Development Research Consortium. Virtual format.

Harris, N., Evans, E., Fronk, C., Decker, D., & Esposito, P. (2020). Lower Limb Strength & Balance in Adults with and without Down Syndrome. Poster presentation at the 2020 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), Denver, Colorado.

4x Wassenich Award for mentoring nominee
Student Government Association (SGA) Faculty of the year (Harris College)

North American Federation for Adapted Physical Activity (NAFAPA)
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Associate Editor
Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Reviewer
Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
Research in Developmental Disabilities
Journal of Motor Learning and Development

Senior clinical director, Special Olympics Texas

Regional Clinical Advisor, Special Olympics North America

Texas Christian University