Eastern Michigan Athletics

Staff Directory

Rick Karcher
Rick Karcher
  • Title:
    Faculty Athletic Representative
  • Email:
  • Phone:
    734.487.9134
Rick Karcher, a full professor in the College of Health Promotion and Human Performance at Eastern Michigan University, was named faculty athletics representative in February of 2022. 

In this position, Karcher serves as a liaison between the university administration and intercollegiate athletics, working to maintain the campus’ academic integrity and a balance between academics and athletics for all student-athletes. He also represents EMU at Mid-American Conference and NCAA meetings and approves eligibility certifications, waivers and violations.

Karcher is published extensively in the field of sports law and speaks frequently on the topic. He has provided expert testimony before Congress and in numerous lawsuits, extensively on the issue of athlete lost earning capacity damages. Karcher’s research and scholarship focuses on athletes’ rights, as well as sport ethics, athlete agent regulation, college coaches’ contracts, and measuring an athlete’s lost earning capacity damages. He co-authored a textbook on sport ethics and a textbook on sport governance and regulation. His published work has appeared in University of Memphis Law Review, Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, The Oxford Handbook of American Sports Law, The Baseball Research Journal, The International Sports Law Journal, Journal of College and University Law, Mississippi Sports Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, South Carolina Law Review, Chapman Law Review, Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Connecticut Law Review, Penn State Law Review, Willamette Law Review, and Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law.

Prior to entering academia, Karcher was a partner at Honigman LLP in Detroit where he practiced corporate law and also represented and counseled athletes in business and litigation matters. A former professional baseball player, Karcher played three seasons in the Atlanta Braves farm system.

Karcher is a visiting professor in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Association of Professional Ball Players of America. He also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport.
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