Sport Management - Administration & Events


If you're interested in the business and organizational side of sports, a career in sport management can put you behind the scenes of the action. Sport management professionals plan events, manage facilities and budgets, coordinate staff and vendors, support athletic programs, and create experiences that keep athletes, fans, and communities engaged.

Education

Skills Employers Look For

A bachelor's degree in sport management is a common starting point for management-track positions. Coursework in business, finance, marketing, event planning, communication, and analytics can help prepare students for the demands of the industry.

  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Organization
  • Budgeting & financial literacy
  • Project management
  • Problem solving
  • Data analysis
  • Time management

Build Your Foundation

Gain Experience

Launch Your Career

  •  Intern with an athletic department, sports organization, venue, or event company
  • Volunteer at tournaments, games, and community events
  • Work in campus athletics or recreation
  • Assist with event planning and game-day operations
  • Build projects such as event plans, sponsorship proposals, or analytics reports
  • Connect with professionals through career fairs, conferences, alumni networks, and informational interviews
Many professionals begin in coordination, assistant, ticketing, operations, or administrative roles before moving into management. Experience in different areas of sport can help you identify the specialty that best fits your interests and build the professional network needed to advance.

Common Entry-Level Roles

  • Event Coordinator - Plan and execute sporting events, coordinating logistics, staff, vendors, schedules, and the fan experience.
  • Athletic Department Assistant - Support the day-to-day administration of athletic programs through scheduling, communication, records, and operations.
  • Facility Operations Assistant - Help manage venues, equipment, staffing, scheduling, and event-day logistics.
  • Ticket Sales/Account Associate - Support ticket sales, group experiences, customer service, and revenue-generating activities.

Career Opportunities

  • Event & Game-Day Operations - Coordinate the logistics and execution of games, tournaments, camps, and other sporting events.
  • Athletic Administration - Manage the operations, budgets, personnel, and policies of school, collegiate, or private athletic departments.
  • Facility Management - Oversee the scheduling, staffing, maintenance, safety, and day-to-day operation of sports venues.
  • Guest & Fan Experience - Create positive experiences for spectators and coordinate customer service operations at sporting events.
  • Compliance & Administration - Help athletic organizations navigate policies, regulations, eligibility, contracts, and risk management.
  • Sports Operations Management - Lead the people, resources, schedules, and business operations that keep  sports organizations running effectively.

Get Involved 

  • Sport Management Club (@rusportmanagementclub)
  • Rutgers Athletics
  • Intramural & Recreational Sports
  • Volunteer at sporting events

 Helpful Links


 Career Sheets

These career sheets are short, prBrainpower Pathways Logo Collectionactical guides that help students explore different careers and understand what it takes to get started. Each sheet provides an overview of the career, the skills and education that may be helpful, and possible next steps.

Students should use the sheets as a starting point for exploration—not as a definitive guide or a requirement to follow a particular path. They can review sheets for careers that interest them, compare different options, and use the suggested resources and next steps to learn more, identify opportunities, and begin building a plan for their own career journey.

Exercise Science Careers
    Athletic Training
    Chiropractor
    Dentist
    Occupational Therapy
    Physician Assistant
    Physical Therapy
Sport Management Careers
     Administration & Events
     Agent & Law
     Coaching
     Marketing & Revenue