Julian is Principal Lecturer, Deputy Director of the Institute of Sport, and Head of Curriculum Delivery. He initially completed his BSc (Hons) in Human Movement Science at the University of Liverpool in 1992, and then completed a PGCE at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth from 1994 – 1995. 

He began his career teaching Physical Education at Bowbrook House School in Worcestershire, before moving into Further Education at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology in 1998. Here he took on several roles, including Course Leader for the HND in Sports & Exercise Science, and Football Academy Director. Whilst at Shrewsbury College he also completed an MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Wolverhampton. He joined the University of Wolverhampton as a Senior Lecturer in 2004, and was appointed as a Principal Lecturer in 2007. 

Julian’s research interests focus on sports performance and agility testing and training. He is also interested in learning and teaching research.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

• M.Sc. Applied Sport and Exercise Science. The University of Wolverhampton
• PGCE in Secondary Education. The College of St Mark and St John
• B.Sc. (Hons) Human Movement Science. The University of Liverpool

• Angwin, E., and Smith, J. (2011). The impact of playing position and level on the fitness characteristics of female soccer players. Journal of Sports Therapy, 4(1), 19 – 23. 
• Cloak, R., Nevill, A., Smith, J., Wyon, M. (2014). The acute effects of vibration stimulus following FIFA 11+ on agility and reactive strength in collegiate soccer players. Journal of Sport and Health Science. DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2014.03.014.
• Groves, M., Bowd, B., and Smith, J. (2010) Experiential learning of study skills in sports students. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 34(1), 11 – 22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03098770903477060 
• Groves, M., Leflay, K., Smith, J., Bowd, B., and Barber, A. (2013). Encouraging the development of higher-level study skills using an experiential learning framework. Teaching in Higher Education 18(5), http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2012.753052 
• Groves, M., Sellars, C., Smith, J., Barber, A. (2015). Factors affecting student engagement: a case study examining two cohorts of students attending a post-1992 university in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Higher Education, 4(2), 27 – 37. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v4n2p27
• Nevill, A. M., Okojie, D.I., Smith. J., O’Donoghue, P.G., and Webb, T. (2019) ‘Are professional footballers becoming lighter and more ectomorphic? Implications for talent identification and development’, International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 14(3), pp. 329–335. Available at: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=s3h&AN=136915948&site=ehost-live
• Smith, J., Cloak, R., Lahart, I., Williams, D. (2014). The Development of a Field Based Test of Unplanned Agility. The Asian Journal of Exercise and Sports Science, 11(1), 27 – 35. 
• Smith, J., Groves, M., Bowd, B., and Barber, A. (2012). Facilitating the development of study skills through a blended learning approach. International Journal of Higher Education, 1(2), 108 – 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v1n2p108 
• Smith, J., and Lane, A.M. (2009). Agility training, agility and dribbling skills in soccer players: effects of a 4-week intervention in Duncan, M. and Lyons, M. (eds.) Advances in Strength and Conditioning Research. Nova Publishers. ISBN: 978-1-60876-661-1 
• Smith, J., and Morrison, D. (2012). The characteristics of professional and semi-professional football players following off-season and pre-season training periods. Journal of Sports Therapy, 5(1), 18 – 24. 
• Smith, J., Sayers, A., and Nevill, A. (2011). The reliability and validity of the reactive agility t-test. Journal of Sports Therapy, 4(1), 40 – 44.