The professional sports industry generates billions of dollars in revenue every year. In fact, the global sports industry is worth up to $620 billion and its growth is faster than global GDP. Those interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry should consider earning a degree in Sports Management. In addition to covering athletics, this degree path includes courses in finance, ethics, management, marketing, psychology, and economics, making it a versatile major. As you explore this career path, you may be wondering, “What can you do with a Sports Management degree?” Here are just a few examples of the job opportunities available to those with a BS in Sport Management.
Business Development Coordinator
A business development coordinator works closely with the marketing, finance, and management teams of a sports team or facility to help generate new clients, fundraising partners, or sales leads. They do this by managing and delivering sales pitches, organizing and leading meetings, and working with their sales team to meet their clients’ expectations. They have to be comfortable meeting and speaking with clients and communicating with them through a variety of mediums. In other words, they must have strong oral and written communication skills. They may also be asked to research and develop budgetary plans for their clients. On average, a business development coordinator can expect to make an annual salary of $50,550. However, this figure will likely increase over time with experience.
Sports Facilities Manager
A sporting facility manager oversees the daily operations of sports facilities, such as football stadiums, golf courses, boxing rings, and ice rinks. They may be involved in scheduling practice sessions for professional and amateur teams, overseeing equipment repairs, ordering new equipment, and designing emergency evacuation procedures. They are also in charge of hiring new employees and setting their salaries, establishing membership and ticketing prices, and determining facility use fees. A sports facility manager must have good communication, interpersonal, management, public relation, and strategic planning skills. For those who want a front-row seat to all the behind-the-scenes action of a sporting event, this is the perfect job. On average, a facility manager can earn $82,1110 per year. In some cases, a facility manager may earn more if they’re offered profit sharing, as well.
Athletic Director
For those interested in college athletics, becoming an athletic director may be of interest. College athletic directors are responsible for making sure that their institution’s athletics and sports department functions effectively. They oversee the athletic department’s approach towards budgeting and marketing. They also implement any needed organizational or infrastructural improvements. Additionally, in an effort to guarantee student athletes’ success, they liaise on students’ behalf with academic departments. They are responsible for hiring coaches and advocating for the college’s teams, to ensure that they have top-quality equipment and practice facilities. A successful athletic director will have excellent communication skills as well as budgeting, marketing, and public relations skills, all of which can be learned in a Sports Management curriculum. On average, athletic directors can expect to earn an annual salary of about $92,360 per year. However, depending on the size of their college’s athletics department, many athletic directors can earn considerably more than that.
Sports Agent
As mentioned previously, the sports industry is a big business. There are over 106 sports franchises across the world. What is one thing all of these franchises require to succeed? Athletes. Athletes rely on their sports agents to help them find positions on teams, to advocate for them, and to help them negotiate contracts. Sports agents may form relationships with high school or collegiate coaches in order to find talented and promising young athletes. However, they are not allowed to help amateur players find positions or endorsement deals. Instead, they work strictly with professional athletes. One of the most important responsibilities a sports agent has is to negotiate their clients’ salaries. A good agent will work to promote their athlete and raise public awareness about them. This will help increase their market value, and in turn, increase the likelihood of a high salary. Sports agents must have strong negotiating skills, excellent sales and promotion skills, and the ability to network and communicate with a variety of people. A sports agent’s salary is typically commission-based. In other words, a sports agent’s living is determined by how much their clients earn.
There are a plethora of careers in the sports industry available to those that pursue a degree in this in-demand field. From management to marketing positions, there’s truly something for everyone. Rather than asking, “What can you do with a Sports Management degree?”, ask yourself “What can’t you do in this field?”
Begin your career journey by earning a BS in Sport Management!
A career in Sports Management starts with a degree that prepares you to develop skills in finance, accounting, marketing, and more. Ready to take the first step? Learn more about University of Bridgeport’s Sports Management BS!