Overview
The popularity of sports around the world creates a wide variety of career options and ministry opportunities in sport management. A career in sport management can be very rewarding for those who love sports and are motivated to help others enjoy them.
The need for well-trained managers in sport organizations and businesses, athletic programs, community and private fitness clubs, ministry outreach, sport medicine, and sport media is vital. This major takes an applied learning approach to prepare students for the wide range of career options in sport management. Practical experiences, volunteer opportunities, and internships are emphasized to prepare the future professional for the ever-changing aspects of a career in sport management.
Course Requirements for B.A. Sport Business Course Requirements for B.S. Sport Business Course Requirements for Sport Management Minor
Courses
Examples of courses in this major:
SMT111 Introduction to Sport Management
An introduction to the field of Sport Management: this course allows the student to investigate the various career options and curriculum choices in Sport Management.
SMT205 Risk Management in Sport
The nature of today’s litigious society makes it imperative that the sport management student be familiar with the special issues of law related to sport. Topics include tort law, risk management, contract law, the legal system, and facility supervision. Special emphasis will be given to current legal issues and application of risk management principles.
SMT230 Sport Management
An introductory course to the study of sport management. The course topics will include the nature and scope of the sport industry, professional development, organizational structures, management and leadership in sport, sport governance, and international sport. This course will include sport media and communications principles in sport.
SMT231 Sport Business
This course is the beginning course for the study of the business of sport. The course emphasis will be on business practices as related to the operation of sport organizations. Budgets and marketing in sport will be key components of this course.
SMT232 Facility Management
In this course the student will study the entire scope of facility management including facility planning, construction, budgeting, facility operations, and facility supervision.
Faculty
The individuals who will challenge you to learn:
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Darrell L. Johnson, B.S., M.A., Ed.D.
Professor of Sport Management
Education History
B.S. in Physical Education, Grace College; M.A. in Physical Education, Kent State University; Ed.D. in Sport Sociology, The University of Alabama
About
Dr. Darrell Johnson is the Director of the Sport Management Program and is the Facility Coordinator for the Gordon Student Recreation Center. He is an active member in many professional organizations including AAHPERD, HASPE, AAPAR, IAHPERD, and NASSM. He has presented at numerous State and National Conventions and Meetings on different sport management and physical education topics. Dr. Johnson is very active in major sports events by volunteering himself and encouraging his students to also be involved. Some of his recent experiences include the 2012 Super Bowl, the 2011 Big Ten Football Championship, the 2012 PGA Senior Championship, and the USGA Senior Open. He regularly leads a group of students on a one-week trip to Atlanta, Georgia to study African-American culture and the rich history of African-American atheletes. As a student, he played on the Lancer's baseball team and currently holds the record for the most wins in a career and the most wins in a season. In 2009, he was inducted into the Grace College Athletic Hall of Fame.
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James C. Kessler, B.S., M.Ed.
Associate Professor of Sport Management
Education History
B.S. in Health and Physical Education, Grace College; M.Ed. in Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Missouri
About
Grace College students are fortunate to learn from Jim Kessler, the head coach for the Lancers men's basketball team. “Coach K” has been at the helm of the Lancers basketball program and part of the school’s faculty since 1975. One of the winningest active coaches in the nation, Kessler is a graduate of Grace College where he had a four-year playing career with the Lancers men’s basketball team. In addition to coaching, he teaches physical education and coaching courses for the Sports Management Program and methods courses for the School of Education. Coach K and his wife, Susanne, have four grown daughters and reside in Winona Lake, Indiana.
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Bailey Weathers, B.S., M.S.
Director of Athletics
Education History
B.S. in Physical Education, Indiana University; M.S. in Physical Education, University of Texas
About
Bailey Weathers serves as the director of athletics at Grace College and also teaches classes in Fitness Assessment, Exercise Physiology, and Biomechanics. His professional experiences include responsibilities at the NCAA Division I level. He has served in coaching and administrative capacities at the University of Notre Dame, the University of South Carolina and Southern Illinois University. He has also, on different occasions, served as the head and assistant coach for US Swimming Olympic Development Camps in Colorado Springs, CO.
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Heather Johnson, B.S., M.B.A.
Adjunct Professor of Sport Management/Head Softball Coach
Education History
B.S. in Business Administration, Psychology and minor in Communications, Grace College; M.B.A., Lenoir-Rhyne University
About
"Coach Johnson" brings a diverse background to the Sports Management Department. Coach Johnson is the most decorated softball athlete to attend Grace. After graduation, she proceeded to get her M.B.A. at Lenoir-Rhyne University while serving as the Facility and Special Events Manager of the Division II Athletic Program. After several years of coaching high school and raising her family, she has returned to Grace as the Head Softball Coach to help rebuild Grace's softball program. In addition to coaching, she teaches Facility Management and Marketing for the Sports Management Program. Heather and her husband, Jay, have three children and reside in Warsaw, Indiana.
Careers
Some of the positions you can obtain:
Sports Executive
Responsible for the team's finances, as well as overseeing the other departments within the organization such as marketing, public relations, accounting, ticket sales, advertising, sponsorship, and community relations. A sports executive also works to establish long-term contracts and develop support within the communities where the team plays.
Fitness Manager
The Fitness Manager is responsible for the overall function of the Personal Training department and its profitability. Recruit, hire, develop, train, and supervise qualified Personal Training staff. Assisting with club profitability via revenue generation and expense management.
Sporting Goods Manager
Manage a store in the retail environment being responsible for the output of merchandising, marketing, logistics, store operations, and IT. Partner with organizations outside your own to generate business and make a profit.
Sports Agent
Act as a representative for professional athletes in many different types of negotiations, providing advice and representation concerning contracts, endorsement and advertisements deals, public appearances, and financial investments.
Sports Facility Managers
Responsible for the day to day operations involved in running a sports facility such as a stadium or arena. They are involved in the planning, buying, selling, or leasing of facilities; as well as the redesign or construction and supervision of personnel.
Sports Ticket Sales Representatives
Demonstrate the value associated with season ticket packages to prospects throughout the area. Sell and service new accounts, and creating new ideas to increase ticket sales. Actively pursue new business and decipher ways to acquire leads.
Testimonials
What others are saying:
The professors in the School of Business make a sincere effort to get to know students on a personal level. Team oriented projects helped me to realize how I play a part with teams and what role I play in these groups. Not only did I learn about the business world through my academic experience at Grace College; I learned about myself, time management, and how management of self is of high importance. The School of Business does a good job of preparing students for 'real world' in business.
—Hayley Cashier, B.S. General Business/Business Administration, 2012
The teaching in the School of Business at Grace College is excellent. The professors expect excellence from the students and they work to help the students achieve it. The professors have also given me the business knowledge and the application to translate it to the real world. Team oriented projects, student organization involvement and other professionally related activities were the most valuable in allowing me to apply the things I have learned.
--Genevieve Benson, B.S. Sport Management/Business Administration, 2012
I feel the business faculty in the School of Business at Grace College are among the best! The professors made my time here very enjoyable and all the professors seemed like they cared about me as a student. Even though I hated group projects during class, I now see the benefits of working with my classmates. My internships and practicums were the most valuable part of my experience at Grace. Overall, I feel I have grown and been stretched greatly!
--Steve Fowler, B.S. Sport Management/Business Administration, 2012