Sports/Athletics Manager

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Work Tasks

SPORTS/ATHLETICS MANAGERS manage and coordinate business-related activities for individual and team sports, such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, boxing, golf, and tennis. They are involved in drafting college players and work with coaches and scouts to determine the most talented players. They negotiate trades and sign players to professional teams. They negotiate with promoters and sports agents to obtain favorable contracts for their clients. They are responsible for the team's budget, including all salaries, from the coach and players to the assistants. They also make financial arrangements for the purchase of equipment, uniforms, and traveling.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $57,500 average per year ($27.75 per hour)
• A small occupation (11,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Entry Requirements

SPORTS/ATHLETICS MANAGERS require at least a bachelor's degree. A specialized degree, such as sports administration, sports management, sports communication, or sports engineering is an asset. Internships are also important for finding a management position in sports. Most sports/athletics managers have had experience as assistant managers or coaches in high school or college, or as managers of local school teams and worked their way up to college and professional level athletes.