BUSINESS > SPORTS MANAGEMENT

Sport Management Concentration
Sport management is one of the fastest growing job categories yet also one of the most challenging. Before candidates are considered for sport management jobs, they must have substantial internship experience and/or graduate degrees in sport administration. One of the advantages of Wartburg's program is that all students have a solid Business Administration major as the foundation for further specialization. Some students also decide to add a leadership certification as a complement to their sports management major through the Institute for Leadership Education.

Specialized Courses:

• Intro to Sport Management - structure of the sports industry
• Human Resource Management and Advertising - choose management or marketing track
• Current Issues in Sport - motivation, leadership, team intervention strategies
• Administration of PE and Facilities - facility planning and management
• Living in a Diverse World: Sport Sociology through Popular Film - investigate contemporary issues of culture in sports
• Sports Management Internship - for-credit real work experience; requires additional fee

Possible Internship Opportunities:

Burlington Bees Baseball Team
Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball Team
Des Moines I-Cubs Baseball Team
Kroenke Sports in Denver, CO
North Iowa Outlaws Hockey Team
Regis University Athletics in Denver, CO
University of Denver Athletics
Wartburg College Athletics and Wellness Programs
Waterloo Black Hawks Hockey Team

Wartburg Alumni in Sport Management/Marketing Careers:

Michael Bowman ’97, Sports Graphics dealer rep, Pantego, TX
Erik Book ’00, Assistant Athletic Director at the University of South Florida in Tampa
Eric Brittain ’06, Season Ticket Sales, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minneapolis, MN
Dia Dohlman ’04, Assistant Volleyball & Track & Field Coach, Univ. of Wisconsin—LaCrosse
Lisa Ellis ’92, VP Operations, Iowa Sport Supply, Cedar Falls, IA
Brad Howe ’93, Dir of Sports Marketing and Sales, Western Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Anna L. Johnson ’03, Account Service Exec, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment— Minnesota Wild, St. Paul, MN
Kara Kehe ’97, Head Softball Coach, Wartburg College, Waverly, IA
Bill Kurich ’99’, Baseball Coach, Webster University, Rensselaer, IN
Jason Kramer ‘00, Sr. Acct. Exec. at University of Kansas - Jayhawk Sports Marketing
Matthew Matthias ‘92, Chief Operating Officer, Newman Golf Course, Ankeny, IA
Wendy Campbell Morris ’97, Sr. Director, Corporate Sponsorship Marketing, NBA, New York City, NY
John Mosbach ’04, Academic Counselor, Univ. of Southern California, Manhattan, CA
Renae Roelfs ’05, Director of Group Outings, Burlington Bees Baseball, Burlington, IA
Jennifer Stern Smith ’91, Marketing Director/PGA Golf Pro, Quarry Oaks Golf Club, Ashland, NE

Types of Sport Management Positions:

Academic Counselor
Account Representatives
Analytical Sports Management
Aquatics Management
Athletic Administration
Coaching
Community Relations
Compliance Officer
Corporate Sponsorship Marketing
Development and Fundraising
Director of Guest Services
Event Planning
Fitness and Health Facilities Management
Nonprofit associations (NCA, etc.)
Officiating
Operations and Facilities Management
Parks and Recreational Management
Sales of Sports Equipment and Apparel
Sports Information
Sports Law (JD required)
Sports Marketing
Sports Media Management
Sports Psychology and Motivation
Ticket and Group Sales
Wellness and Fitness Management

Many job candidates complete a graduate program to get the additional theory and practical experience needed to be competitive. The following are selective schools considering Wartburg College applicants into Sport Management graduate programs. Other students enter MBA programs for an even broader business background.

Ball State
Indiana State
Minnesota State University – Mankato
Ohio University
San Diego State University
St. Cloud State University
University of Connecticut
University of Iowa
University of Georgia
University of Massachusetts
University of Oklahoma
University of Pennsylvania – Wharton
University of Tennessee
University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse
Wichita State

Several companies are helping to screen candidates, thus making it easier for professional sport organizations to get the most competitive candidates. These firms include: GameFace, Team Work Consulting Inc., SportsJobsUSA.com, and WorkInSports.com. Note that many of these sites require job seekers to pay to get information about jobs that are open. Professional sports organizations are shielding themselves from the hundreds of applications for each position or internship. Graduate programs are often the best way to get college sports management and marketing experience, since the programs help to staff local needs.