What Does It Take to Succeed in Sport Management? Industry Leaders Share Their Insights

As the summer internship season kicks into high gear and offices buzz with fresh talent, it's the perfect time to reflect on how to make the most of these valuable learning experiences.

I'd like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all the dedicated professionals who generously shared their time, expertise, and advice for Dr. Susan Foster's upcoming textbook, "Experiential Learning in Sport Management: Internships and Beyond." FiT Publishing Your willingness to mentor and guide the next generation is truly inspiring.

Susan Foster, Ph.D and I are in the final stages of completing this comprehensive guide, aimed at high school and college students. It draws upon the expertise of over 70 industry professionals like yourselves to offer practical tips, techniques, and resources for navigating internships and launching a successful career in sports.

In the spirit of sharing knowledge and helping interns thrive, we wanted to offer a sneak peek into the wisdom we've gathered. Throughout our research, we were struck by the recurring themes and insightful advice shared by so many accomplished individuals in the field.

Here are just a few quotes I wanted to share from some industry experts:

JJ Alberts "Stay positive and think about your end goal. It is challenging in the beginning to break in but, once you do, be a sponge."

Leron Black " Always stay positive. Never allow a situation of a lost opportunity to take your joy."

Tyrone Brooks "The industry is highly competitive but there is an opportunity to find your niche! "

Paul Cacciatore "Don’t be afraid to produce multi-versions of your resume based on the job you are applying for. Not every job is the same."

Jordan Cannon "Don't just look to "get your foot in the door" or "I'll do anything". Go after what you are passionate about. "

Matthew Cerullo "Gain experience wearing many hats at your internship. Ask your bosses plenty of questions about why certain ideas work and don't work..."

Murray Cohn " Be open-minded and find a boss who will teach and develop you rather than the coolest logo. "

Sara Daniel "Be open to all opportunities. You may have your dream job, team and city, but keep in mind that your career path is a journey. Don't shy away from minor league sport either, especially if you aren't sure what area of the business you want to specialize in that will give you the best exposure and experience in all areas. "

Pete DiVito "Understand going in this is not about making money. You will always feel underpaid and underappreciated. We do this because we love sports and celebrating the accomplishments of the student-athletes. "

Dr. Anthony D'Onofrio "Identify a mentor, have a job search strategy, network, and do your homework regarding current careers in the sport industry, and build as many contacts in the industry"

Joe Favorito "Be a curious learner, do not be afraid to fail or ask questions. Bring joy to everyone you touch. Take copious notes. Share experiences, and don't be afraid of being uncomfortable. "

Marjorie Gantman "Show up with your best attitude every day. Keep an open mind and be willing to jump into new experiences. Listen, ask questions, and always offer to help. Get to know everyone around you. Take the time to find your purpose, lean into your passion, and know your strengths. "

Ethan Godfrey "Network. Network. Network. It's always important to move out of your comfort zone to meet new people who work in the industry you are interested in. I fell in love with the world of Recreation by doing my own research to see how other schools operated."

Ryan Healey "You have to do it for the right reasons, many of the entry-level positions are the grunt work. However, if you put in the time and effort then it will pay off, bigger and better opportunities will become available. Life is very unpredictable, always keep your ears open and you never know when a door will open!"

Samuel Horning "Start early and network. One of the biggest takeaways that I wish I had done a better job doing is being more aggressive in finding either internships or volunteer opportunities to learn and grow, before graduating college."

Patrick Hurley "Take advantage of your internship and continue to build your network, building relationships is a key to success in anything you do. Treat every day as a job. "

Brittany Jacobs "Take advantage of opportunities as they arise and build your network. You never know which sector of sport you might fall in love with or which connection might lead to your next role."

Molly Keays, M.Ed. "Begin gaining hands-on practical experience as soon as you start college. Volunteering and interning at local park and recreation centers and community events give you a different insight into understanding the dynamics of the field."

Will McClaran "You need to be ready to put yourself into uncomfortable situations. Outside of finding a healthy work-life balance, the odds of having to move to a market you have never been to, or possibly ever heard of, is a very real possibility. Nearly every job I took in sports had me moving to a new place I had never experienced before moving there."

Chris Murphy "When you eventually earn that entry-level position, give it everything you have. Work harder than everyone around you, consume feedback and ask for it, be coachable, be empathetic and the best possible teammate to others you can be. Each and every day you are in your role you have the opportunity to build your success, build your knowledge base, and build your brand within the company."

Michael Mudd "As an intern with a sport organization, you want to be the ultimate team player within the internship group that you are a part of (assuming your organization has several interns at one time). However, aspire to be the "best" of the bunch. Be the hardest working, the most proactive, and the most attentive to detail out of your "teammates." No job is beneath you."

Darran Miner "The two greatest abilities in sports are availability and flexibility. When starting out, let your manager know you are available to take on new projects and have a desire to learn. This will help you gain valuable experience and put you in a position to succeed not only in your current job but also throughout your career. "

Kristan Mallet "Working in college sports is a deeply rewarding yet challenging career. The daily involvement in sports is satisfying and exciting. Getting to see athletes develop their skills, achieve their goals, and graduate is what it is all about. There is a level of community that allows you to create and foster relationships with athletes, coaches, colleagues, and alumni"

Marcus Myrick "Make sure you are interviewing your boss as much as they interview you. Your first leader will have a tremendous impact on your career so make sure you find someone who is willing to pour into you. Interviewers are more impressed with the questions you ask them versus the answers you give. "

Andrew Perna "A career in sports is one of the most coveted for graduates right now. You must carve a path to distinguish yourself from all of the competition -- whether that be through an internship or your academic career. "

Michelle Price "Don't just look to "get your foot in the door" or "I'll do anything". Go after what you are passionate about. Not every career path is going to be linear, so be open to changes that allow you to learn new skills and grow. It's rare for someone in the sport industry to stay at one organization for their whole career."

Ron Stepanek, PGA "When starting out, be willing to do everything, then do even more. Be sure to grasp the "why" of everything you experience, i.e. from the purpose of your role to understanding the goals and purposes of the organization. Always strive to exceed expectations. "

Christopher Streeter, Ph.D. "Coaching is teaching. Become a good teacher of life. Become a good teacher of your sport. Become good at communicating. The only way to become an excellent teacher and coach is to practice. Work with your local youth teams. Volunteer on a high school or college coaching staff. "

Kenneth Swain "Learn how to work in the Athletic Communication world. Whether it's game day prep, or updating record books, you learn how to manage your time and use your help. just get your foot in the door and work your tail off and people will notice."

Brian Towers "Get as much volunteer or internship experience as possible in college. While everyone focuses on finding what they want to do, ruling out areas that you don't like is equally important. Additionally, working in sport can be a grind and it's always better to see how you like that pace before you're in a full-time role. "

These quotes, and many more like them, offer a glimpse into the invaluable advice packed into the upcoming textbook. Whether you're an intern eager to absorb new skills or a seasoned professional looking to mentor the next generation, we hope this preview sparks inspiration and ignites a passion for continuous learning in the dynamic world of sports.

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