Head coach of Finnish men’s national ice hockey team Jukka Jalonen awarded honorary doctorate

The University of Jyväskylä, Finland, awarded 15 new honorary doctorates on 20 May 2023. The faculties of the University award honorary doctorates to persons with meritorious work for the benefit of society or science.
Suomen jääkiekkomaajoukkueen päävalmentaja Jukka Jalonen promovoitiin Jyväskylän yliopiston promootiossa kunniatohtoriksi. Jalonen sai promoottorina toimivalta romaanisen filologian professori Outi Merisalolta tohtorin hatun päähänsä ja miekan käsiinsä.
Published
20.5.2023

The honorary doctorate was awarded by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, from which Jalonen graduated majoring in sport pedagogy. In his position as a head coach, he has shown how it is possible to apply sport pedagogy to top-level sports and make a team of individuals strive and achieve something that cannot be reached only by gathering top individuals together.

As the long-term head coach of the Finnish men’s national ice hockey team, Jalonen has repeatedly proven how important it is to let everyone on the team play using their own strengths while heading for a common goal. The latest proof of this approach was the gold medal in ice hockey in the 2022 Winter Olympics. This gold medal was Finland’s first ever Olympic gold in traditional team sports.

In his work, Jukka Jalonen has systematically implemented value leadership that emphasises cooperation and enjoying the journey. In his public activities, he has brought up the University’s expertise in sport and health sciences.

Other honorary doctors: https://www.jyu.fi/en/academic-events/degrees-ceremony/honorary-doctors-2023

In total 117 masters and 150 doctors participated in the Conferment of Degrees at the University of Jyväskylä.

More information:

Communications Manager Liisa Harjula, tel. +358 40 805 4403, viestinta@jyu.fi