MBA in Sports Management
The world of athletics comes up with business models and exciting careers for the people who are passionate about sports. Experts have stated that talent contributes to only 10-15% of your success, the remaining is your attitude and pressure-handling skills. These skills need to hone with some serious hard work, dedication, and sincerity. Some sports are played by individuals and some by teams, but both needs to be channelized and directed well to get the desired outputs, hence the need for a sports manager. Behind the scenes, there are several people who are involved in the development of an average player/team to a world-class player/team – broadcasters, PR executives, facility managers, nutritionists, trainers, coaches, and many more.
Education to pursue a career in sports management
An associate needs to lay a solid foundation by getting their bachelor’s degree. The competition for a job in the sports industry is fierce as results are the only way to quantify your efforts. A specialization during your Master’s will certainly be an added advantage in your quest for your dream career. The task and responsibilities of a sports manager would vary depending on the subfield they choose to specialize. You can choose any one of the following:
- Master of Business Administration: This generalized management master’s degree will be helpful in your pursuit to gaining knowledge and become a master in your field. Concentrate your career with specializations in finance, sports business, marketing or sports management if it is available.
- Master of Science in Sports Management: This degree would keep you industry-ready in all levels of management like recreational, interscholastic, juvenile, amateur, collegiate, and professional.
- Master of Science in Sports Medicine: This degree would cover health areas for athletes like assessment, prevention, management, and rehabilitation and recovering from injuries.
Other courses which you can pursue are BA/MA in Sports Management, BBA in Sports Management, PG Diploma in Sports Business or Management, or even Ph.D. in sports management.
A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in sports management would include study and research in areas like sociological or psychological areas of sports. A Doctor of Education (EdD or DEd) in sports management focuses on two main area: Sports medicine or Olympism.
Career paths in Sports Management
You can work in a plethora of fields related to sports management. Being a multi-million industry all over the world, you can gain phenomenal success in your career if you maintain passion and composure. Some of the roles which you can pursue in Sports Management are Athletics Director, Team Director, Business Operations, Sports Agents, Ticket Sales, Marketing Communication and Sports Managers, Head Coaches, Event Sports Managers and PR Managers.
Sports teams and leagues are among the obvious employers. Some of the other popular options include:
- Sports Network Companies such as ESPN, Star, Fox Sports and Sony
- Athletic apparel companies such as Nike, Adidas, Puma and Reebok
- Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Firms
Median Annual Salary & Growth of Sports Managers
Depending on the position and experience you have in the industry, you can potentially earn anywhere between $30,000 per year to more than $100,000 annually.
| S.No | Role | Median Annual Salary | Growth Rate |
| 1 | Coaches and Scouts | $35,000 | 6% |
| 2 | Sports Agents/Managers | $65,000 | 9% |
| 3 | Sports Marketing Manager | $130,000 | 5% |
Future Outlook of the Industry
Since Sports is a growing domain globally and the demand and competitiveness is never going to end, you can expect it to do better than many other sectors, even during tough economic times. With many sports picking up the intensity and increasing competition, there are going to be plenty of openings and roles in this industry which poised to cross many boundaries in the near future.
