Sports Management Careers

Travel is a big part of working in sports management. Many jobs in sports management — from coaching to public relations — involve travel. Some sports managers travel with professional teams during the season, while others attend international sporting events. Agents may also travel to meet with clients.

Robin Monsky points to travel as one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. “It allowed me to visit parts of this country and the world I might not have otherwise gotten to see. And if there’s a big sporting event going on, it typically means a city is going to show off its best side while you are there, so that’s a bonus!” Monsky tells Best Colleges.

Athletes, trainers, agents, and sports managers also get to see the impact of sports when they travel, as Monsky highlights. “Participating in sports events around the country and around the world also serves as a reminder of the power of sports to make people happy, to create passion, and to cross barriers.”

Identifying a clear objective is an important first step in building a career in sports management. The field encompasses many different jobs, many of which draw on dramatically different skill sets. Thus, you must focus your schooling and career preparation on building the proficiencies and aptitudes you will need in your chosen path.

In some cases, an associate degree in sports management is enough to complement more intensive and job-specific training. For example, if you want to be a sports statistician, completing a bachelor’s in mathematics with an associate degree in sports management can boost your resume. Other paths, including roles in facility management and player development, are more accessible to candidates with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in sports management.

An associate degree in sports management provides a general introduction to topics like sports marketing and finance, organizational administration, promotions and public relations, legal issues, and risk management. Some programs take an alternate focus by combining sports science with business training.

These two-year degrees can open doors to some entry-level positions, but they also offer complementary value. If you hold credentials in an area such as marketing or business administration, an associate degree in sports management can teach you how to apply your existing knowledge to the unique and fast-paced world of sports.

At the bachelor’s level, sports management programs move beyond generalities and offer learners the opportunity to specialize their studies in specific areas of interest. For example, bachelor’s programs in sports management may offer specializations in coaching, exercise science, or player representation. These concentrations build off core requirements that cover the essentials of sports marketing, sports administration, ethics in sports, and key principles of human resource management in sports organizations.

Generally, a specialized bachelor’s degree functions as the minimum credential needed to gain entry into sports management careers with growth potential. A bachelor’s also provides an excellent academic foundation for sports-focused MBA programs and other graduate-level degrees.

A master’s degree in sports management develops advanced business and negotiating skills. With a master’s degree, you’ll qualify for roles such as contract negotiations manager or business development director. Graduate programs can also help you move into specialized areas like marketing or public relations.

When it comes to master’s programs, you can choose between an MS in sports management or an MBA in sports management. What’s the difference? An MBA will include more core business courses, while an MS will focus more exclusively on sports management.

Many universities offer master’s programs in sports management. Robin Monsky recommends looking at class size, career development opportunities, and job placements.

“Students who are considering a master’s degree in sports management should make sure to do their due diligence on the schools offering the degree,” Monsky says. “Make sure you are learning from the experts.”

Doctoral programs in sports management typically allow learners to focus intensive, research-oriented studies on a specific topic or area of interest. While these programs can prepare students for careers in the professional world, most are oriented toward applying quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to study questions with significant economic, cultural, and sociological implications.

Most sports management doctoral programs require applicants to hold a master’s degree in a related area. A growing number of schools offer mostly or fully online doctorates in sports management.

Some careers in sports management demand optional or mandatory licenses or professional certifications. For example, many major pro leagues require player agents to obtain credentials in order to represent athletes.

Credentialing processes vary among organizations, but they typically include rigid qualification and testing standards. Some U.S. jurisdictions also mandate that sports agents obtain and maintain separate licenses to represent players who live or work in the state.

Similarly, combat sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts, also frequently require officials, trainers, coaches, and athletes to obtain state-based licenses to participate in official events.

Athletic training is another example of a regulated sports management profession; trainers who work for amateur organizations, such as high school or collegiate athletics leagues, must hold profession-specific certifications in addition to state-issued teaching licenses.

Continuing education can be used to supplement a degree in sports management. Continuing education can take the form of informal sessions — such as seminars or open courses — or formal continuing education programs.

Formal programs often lead to certificates of completion and may explore subjects like advanced statistical analytics, e-sports management, facilities management, international sports management, and sports marketing. Alternatively, you have the option to head back to college and upgrade to a higher sports management degree.

Many major sports leagues, teams, and player agencies offer internship opportunities; however, given the high levels of demand for a limited number of available openings, these may be difficult to land and usually entail a highly competitive application process. Thus, no matter what branch of sports management you plan to work in, networking will likely be a critical factor in your career success.

Joining a professional organization can open a lot of doors for students looking to expand their networks. Prominent examples include the Sport Marketing Association and the North American Society for Sport Management.

The actions you need to take to switch to a sports management career depend on your current educational and employment background.

While a growing number of colleges offer specialized sports management degrees, many professionals who work in the field hold generalist credentials in fields related to their positions. For instance, a PR specialist for a sports team or league may have a regular marketing or public relations degree.

If your current credentials qualify you for your target sports-related job, networking and a willingness to start from the bottom may be all you need for a successful transition. Otherwise, you should consider earning a sports-focused certificate or degree to qualify for entry-level professional opportunities.