Dream of a career in professional sport? How about sitting in the clubhouse of a minor league baseball game or dealing with the daily operations of a college football team? Students who dream about careers in professional sport find that Defiance College is the place to make it happen.

Sport management lets students participate in the exciting world of sports from a business standpoint. In this major, students learn about various sports, the psychological principles at work behind them, and how sports fit into society. They also gain a strong knowledge foundation in business, examining how the worlds of business and sports interact and how they can make those interactions more profitable and beneficial for every person and interest involved. At Defiance College, sport management professors who love sport and understand business work closely with students through volunteer opportunities, field experiences, and internships.

The sport management major is designed for careers in recreation leadership, retail sporting goods, professional team administration, sport law, sport psychology, resort management, and golf course or country club management. It is also appropriate for such careers as a sports consultant to businesses, churches, and camps. For those interested in employment as a sports information director or sports journalist, this major allows students to focus on the written media as a specialty.

Dream of a career in professional sport?  Defiance College can help turn that dream into a career.

Sport Management Program Goals

• To understand the socio-cultural dimensions of sport.
• To develop and apply management and leadership skills.
• To explore the ethical principles related to sport.
• To apply marketing and communication skills within sport settings.
• To know how to budget program resources and apply financial principles related to sport.
• To understand legal aspects of sport and to develop risk management plans.
• To understand the roles of governing bodies in sport.
• To gain practical experience through experiential learning.
  

The program is designed to prepare students to either obtain an entry-level position upon graduation or to continue studies in graduate school.

Major Brochure | Courses | Sample Plan of Study

Internships

A specifically selected internship will be required with a presentation to department faculty at the completion of the internship. Some of the internship placements include:

• Columbus Blue Jackets
• Dayton Dragons
• Detroit Tigers
• Fort Wayne Wizards
• Michigan State University Strength and Conditioning Programs
• Toledo Mud Hens
• University of Michigan Sports Information Department
• US Olympic Training Center
  
  

Additional information on internships can be found by clicking here.

After College — What’s Next?

The Sport Management program prepares students to continue their studies in graduate school or to obtain entry-level positions in the work place. A number of our graduates are working on advanced degrees. Other graduates are actively involved in the management of sporting good stores, program directors for the YWCA and YMCA, activity coordinator for health/fitness center, golf course management, summer camp coordinator, sports information director for a college or university, sports information and public relations director for professional sport teams, and sports ticket manager.

Useful Links

Careers in Sport Management

Sport Management Internship Site Directory

The Faculty

Timothy E. Rickabaugh, Ph.D., Professor of Exercise Science
419-783-2584 | trickabaugh@defiance.edu | Faculty Profile

Craig A. Rutter, M.Ed., Associate Professor of Exercise Science
Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Engagement
419-783-2374 | crutter@defiance.edu | Profile

Matthew Lydum, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education
Part-time Assistant Track and Field Coach
419-783-2419 | mlydum@defiance.edu | Profile