2008 Woodie Awards
Possibility of Sports Management Program surfaces
Katie Perry
Issue date: 10/9/03 Section: News Stories
As Americans, we live in a sports-obsessed culture. We plan Sundays in the fall and winter months around the NFL schedule, and we hold up our favorite athletes as god-like beings for being able to excel in whatever sport it is they play. It is because of this obsession that working in the sports and entertainment industry is one of the most appealing fields to a college student or recent graduate looking for a professional position.
Recognizing that there is a lack of information about careers in sports available to Assumption College students, Professor Cheryl Amantea of the Business Studies Department has teamed up with David Kowalczyk of the Student Development Center to offer students an informational session about career opportunities within the sports arena. The program is being presented by Amantea, who has first-hand experience of what it is like to be involved in the world of sports, because she serves as a sports agent in addition to being a professor here at Assumption.
The purpose of the program is to educate students on the different employment opportunities that are under the larger umbrella of sports-related careers. Amantea notes that, "most students will exclaim 'I want to work for a team.' This is a tiny part of sports- and an exceedingly low paying area of sports."
Some of the lesser known areas of working in sports include being involved with the licensed merchandise, running and managing some of the different sporting events, being involved in the development and sale of sporting goods, and being involved with the sports media, whether it be though reporting, commentating, or working on a website.
Amantea hopes that the workshop will "help them [students] become more realistic and see the myriad of other (often better) opportunities that the profession has to offer."
A common concern students have when considering pursuing a career in sports is the question of what an appropriate major should be. While Assumption currently does not offer any degree programs associated with sports marketing or management, there are plenty of other majors that are offered which would sufficiently equip a student with the knowledge needed to enter the field. Almost any college degree is sufficient for a career in sports, however taking at least introductory level business courses is recommended. Different aspects of the field require different skills; for example, a journalism or communications major could consider sports reporting, or working behind the scenes of different broadcasts and television shows.