JAMES C. PUHALLA is a former design-build contractor who has designed and/or built new sports fields and developed plans to restore existing ones throughout the US and Canada. Currently, Jim reviews design and construction documents to identify errors or suggest improvements. With almost 50 years of experience in sports field design, construction, and maintenance, he has coauthored five books alongside Dr. Jeffrey Krans and Dr. Michael Goatley Jr. Through seminars and speaking engagements, he shares insights to help others develop safer and more functional sports facilities.

JEFFREY V. KRANS is a former Professor of Agronomy at Mississippi State University in the Golf and Sports Turf Management program. He received his PhD from Michigan State University in 1975, an MS degree from the University of Arizona in 1973, and his BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1970. Jeff taught and advised students and conducted research in turfgrass breeding and physiology from 1975 to 2002. Jeff remains an avid supporter of high-quality natural turfgrass for safe sports for participants and spectators.

J. MICHAEL GOATLEY, JR is Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech. He taught and advised students in the Golf and Sports Turf Management program at Mississippi State from 1988 to 2003 before moving to Virginia Tech. Mike serves as the outreach coordinator for agronomic turfgrass sciences in Virginia, and his research interests focus on turfgrass selection and management strategies that promote environmental stewardship. He has been engaged in teaching, research, and outreach in turfgrass science for almost four decades and is a Past-President of SFMA.