Sports

Are You Ready to Be Part of the Team?
Do you have a deep passion for a specific game, a knack for teamwork, and a desire to contribute to the business and culture of athletics? If you’re a driven and strategic person who wants to be close to the action without being on the field, then a career in sports might be a perfect fit for you! This dynamic field is for dedicated professionals who manage the athletes, events, and organizations that make the world of sports so exciting.
The Basics
The sports industry is a massive and diverse field that includes professional leagues, college athletics, recreational programs, and the media that covers them. It’s a career path that blends competition and passion with business, marketing, science, and technology. There are countless opportunities to work behind the scenes and make a huge impact.
You might find yourself working in diverse roles such as:
- Athletic Director: Overseeing a school’s or organization’s athletic programs, including budgeting, coaching staff, and facilities.
- Coach: Training and guiding athletes to improve their skills and reach their full potential.
- Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Helping athletes prevent, diagnose, and recover from injuries to maintain peak performance.
- Sports Agent: Representing athletes in contract negotiations, endorsements, and career management.
- Sports Analyst/Data Scientist: Using data and statistics to evaluate player performance, inform team strategy, and predict game outcomes.
- Sports Journalist/Broadcaster: Reporting on games, players, and news for a variety of media outlets, from television to podcasts and social media.
- Sports Marketing & Promotions Specialist: Developing and executing campaigns to build a team’s brand, sell tickets, and attract sponsorships.
- Sports Psychologist: Working with athletes to improve their mental game, including focus, motivation, and managing pressure.
- Ticket Sales Executive: Managing ticket sales and revenue for teams, venues, and events.
- Venue & Event Manager: Overseeing the operations of stadiums, arenas, and sporting events, from logistics to guest experience.
You could be working for a professional sports franchise, a college athletic department, a sports apparel company, or a media network! law firm, a government agency, a non-profit, a political campaign headquarters, or an international organization!
Why Sports?
A career in sports offers the unique opportunity to be a part of the game you love, even if you’re not an athlete. You’ll work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment filled with passionate people. The industry is all about teamwork and collaboration, giving you a strong sense of purpose and shared goals. Whether you’re working to sign the next big player or helping a young athlete recover from an injury, your contributions can have a direct and meaningful impact on the success of a team or an individual.
Preparation
A strong academic foundation is essential for many careers in sports. Consider majors like Sports Management, Business Administration, Kinesiology, Communications, or Marketing. For roles in sports medicine, a degree in a related field and often a master’s or doctorate degree is required.
Practical experience is crucial. Seek out internships with a professional team, a college athletic department, or a sports marketing agency. Volunteer at local sporting events or in community athletic programs. Developing a deep knowledge of the business of sports, along with strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, will be your greatest assets.
Key Skills:
To thrive in a sports career, cultivate these essential skills:
- Adaptability: The ability to adjust to a fast-paced and often unpredictable environment.
- Business Acumen: Understanding the financial, marketing, and operational side of the sports industry.
- Communication: Clearly articulating ideas to colleagues, coaches, and the public.
- Event Planning: The ability to organize and execute large-scale events with meticulous attention to detail.
- Networking: Building and leveraging a professional network, as many jobs in sports are found through personal connections.
- Passion: A genuine enthusiasm for sports that fuels your drive and dedication.
- Problem-Solving: Thinking on your feet to address unexpected challenges that arise during a game or event.
- Salesmanship: The ability to sell tickets, sponsorships, and ideas to a variety of stakeholders.
- Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with a diverse group of people to achieve a common goal.
- Time Management: Juggling multiple responsibilities and tight deadlines, especially in-season.
Career Readiness
- Coaching Appointments: Schedule an appointment with a career coach at the OPCD for personalized guidance on:
- Resumes & cover letters
- Major or career exploration
- Internship and job search strategies
- Networking techniques
- Interview preparation
- Job offer evaluation and negotiation
- Navigating graduate or professional school applications
- Quick Questions:
- For quick questions, drop in Mon-Thu from 1:30 to 4:30.
- Wake Your Resume: Attend our Wake Your Resume workshops on Wednesdays in the OPCD during the academic year. Search for a session and register on Handshake.
Career Search
Handshake:
- Profile: Update your Handshake profile and career interests to see relevant opportunities.
Networking: Utilize LinkedIn to connect with Wake Forest University alumni. Learn more about networking.
Sports jobs are often found on specialized job boards. Sites like WorkInSports and JobsInSports
are excellent resources. Professional organizations like the NCAA also have dedicated job boards. For salary information, sites like Glassdoor and Payscale
can provide a range of pay estimates. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great resource for national salary data on specific roles within the broader sports and entertainment field.
Other Resources
Professional Organizations/Sites:
- College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
- National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
- National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA)
- North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM)
- Sport Marketing Association (SMA)
- Sports Lawyers Association (SLA)