Sports Management

Sports management is big business! In 2011 the estimated size of the sports industry in the United States is approximately $422 billion. (Sport Management Academy) Employment of athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers is expected to increase by 23% from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) In the Sports Management program, students acquire leadership, programming, and management skills for careers in sports related fields, such as:

  •  Event and Facility Coordinator
  •  Sponsorship Coordinator
  •  Sports Camp Manager/Director
  •  Athletic and Community Program Director
  •  Research, Marketing, and Sales

Course Requirements

In addition to the department's core courses, students will take the following concentration-specific courses:

Introduction to Sports Management - 3 credits 
Program Planning & Management - 3 credits 
Facility Management - 3 credits 
Marketing - 3 credits 
Event Management - 3 credits 
Seminar: Commercial Recreation - 3 credits 
Legal Issues in Recreation and Sports - 3 credits 
Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Sports Managements - 3 credits
Sports Management -Specific Internship - 6 credits

 Internship

One of the key academic and professional development experiences our students receive is field experience through internships. There are generally two internships required of the undergraduate student. One internship follows the junior year, after successful completion of prerequisite upper division courses, which prepares students for programming in a variety of settings. This 300-level internship is customarily a summer experience, entailing an 8-week, 320-hour exposure in an approved setting under both agency professional and university faculty supervision. This internship is followed by additional upper division coursework in preparation for the 400-level internship the following summer, entailing a 12-week, 480-hour experience with emphasis on supervision, administrative and management duties. Agency and university supervision is provided. For a more detailed explanation of the internship requirements, please read our handout.
The two internships combined earn the student 9 credit hours toward the degree and enhance preparedness for professional employment. Along with the portfolio, internships fill out the student's profile as a prepared and well-rounded individual ready for the challenges of the profession.The internship process is an important part of the student's education and preparation for their future careers. In the past, students have successfully completed internships at the following:

Connecticut Junior Soccer Association
CT Owls Baseball
CT Starters (AAU)
Future Stars Basketball Academy
Mohegan Tribe, Recreation & Community Services 
Triple Crown Sports
New Canaan Field Club
Zenith Velocity Youth Track and Field
XL Center, Hartford
Hudson Valley Renegades Baseball
Cape Cod Baseball League
Everson Soccer
WNBA Connecticut Sun 

Advisory Committee for the Sports Management Program

Donna Lopiano, President, Sports Management Resources
Bill Dowling, President and CEO, New Britain Rock Cats
Bill Tavares, WNBA Connecticut Sun
Anthony Rosati, Manager of Events Services, XL Center, Hartford
Kareem Mebane, former Professional Umpire
Bob Picozzi, Sport Anchor, ESPN Sports Radio
Tim Holt, Assistant Offensive Line Coach, NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Paul Lambert, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Julie Greenwood, Executive Director, Squash Haven
Jim Tonelli, Riddell
Nick D'Ambrosio, N&D Sports
Shane Beardsley & Sue Johnson, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders)

FACulty for the sports management program

Dr. Joseph Panza
Ed.D. University of Pennsylvania;  M.A. Seton Hall University.
Executive Director, SARAH, Inc., Guilford, CT; former President and CEO of Bethphage Mission West, Inc., Englewood, CO.
panzaj1@southernct.edu

Dr. Donna Lopiano
Ph.D, University of Southern California. President and Founder, Sports Management Resources.

Mr. Edward Mokus
M.Ed. Temple University.
Associate Athletics Director, Yale University; Collegiate Sports Associate, National Media Group, New York, NY.
mokuse1@southernct.edu

Mr. Karreem Mebane
M.A. Yale University.
Senior Program Coordinator, Office of Development, Yale University.

Mr. Robert Sheeley
M.S. Southern Connecticut State University.
Associate Vice President for Capital Budgeting and Facilities Operations, Southern Connecticut State University.
sheeleyr1@southernct.edu

For more information, please contact the advisor for the Sports Management program:
Dr. Joe Panza
(203) 392-7053 
Panzaj1@southernct.edu