A Closer Look at Sports Management Programs
One of the reasons why I initially started this blog was to provide current Sports Management students with additional industry resources. Since then, it has grown to much more than that. People now visit from around the world, current sports executives, sports marketers looking to reach new audiences as well as those interested in working in this business.
Tonight, I return to teach another class at Long Beach State in the Sports Management Program there. I have been doing this for a few years and it never gets old. When I begin class tonight, I will be bringing with me, a supplement to the Sports Business Journal (SBJ). This weekly magazine, often looked at as the bible for the industry, came out with a special issue this week and takes a closer look at Sports Management Programs.
The title is a bit frightening if you are currently enrolled: ”A Degree of Uncertainty.” — Under neath that the subtitle reads — “More colleges with sports management programs combined with fewer industry jobs means challenges for both schools and their students.”
In today’s world, this is an understatement. First of all, consider the number of colleges and universities that are offering a degree in this business today. The SBJ breaks down the number of schools PER STATE that offer some sort of degree’d program (undergrad, graduate etc). Consider this: Florida and Pennsylvania have 23 schools in each state that have a program, followed by North Carolina with 22 and Illinois with 20. California has but 11 and I only found two states that did not even offer a program, Utah and Wyoming.
The bottom line? Sports management programs have become very popular. Think about the number of students in each program and now you have thousands of new graduates entering the work force and the competition for jobs is stronger than ever. A degree in a sports management program does not guarantee you a job in this field.
So remember these few things
1) Differentiate yourself. Figure out how you are going to stand out not only from your classmates, but from other graduates.
2) Get the Experience. One of the most valuable components of a degree’d program is experience. Internships allow you to gain experience and exposure within a sports organization. Choose your internships wisely and then work like a dog to stand out.
3) Network, network, network. It never ends, not even after you have the job.
My old friend Derrick Hall, now president/CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, whom I helped take over my position with the Dodgers when I began a different journey, said it very well in the same issue of the Sports Business Journal.
“The number of students now enrolled and competing for entry into the sports world is overwhelming. My advice for students is to be realistic and do all they can to get a foot in the door. Though they may have aspirations of becoming a team president or general manager, it will take time and patience. They just need the opportunity to prove themselves at any level. They need to understand that the pay is low and the hours are long staritng out, but if they are seeking this career path for the right reasons, these will not be hurdles.”
