Jobs to Get with a Sports Degree

A degree in sports does not mean that you are limited to coaching; your degree can be applied toward careers in a wide variety of areas, including education, sports management, the retail arena or sports medicine and science. Consider some of the jobs listed below as you make your career decision.

  1. Coaching

    • Perhaps the most obvious use for a degree in sports is coaching. While coaching positions are available at nearly every age and skill level, further education may be necessary for some high school and college coaching positions.

    Teach Physical Education

    • Similarly to coaching, teaching phys ed is a fun way to work with students at all age and skill levels. Because it does not require the same type of proficiency in one sport that coaching does, P. E. teachers use a broader knowledge base about sports in general. Teaching P. E. at some locations may require further education.

    Sports Complex Management

    • Individuals with a sports management degree are also qualified to manage sports facilities such as driving ranges, golf courses, ice skating rinks, climbing gyms and other sports arenas.

    Sports Equipment Retail

    • Another job many sports majors enjoy is owning or working at a sports equipment retail store. The job description includes educating and assisting customers in finding the right kind of sports equipment. It may also involve organizing classes, repairing damaged equipment and managing other employees.

    Sports for Nonprofits

    • One very rewarding way to incorporate sports into your career is to work with a nonprofit company to organize athletic events for special groups, such as disabled children or the elderly.

    Personal Trainer

    • Personal training is an excellent way to put a sports science degree to use. It requires a combination of sports expertise and a quality one-on-one relationship with the client.

    Athletic Trainer

    • Like a personal trainer, an athletic trainer works with one or more athletes at a time to ensure that they maximize physical strength and prevent injury.

    Physical Therapist

    • Physical therapists help individuals recover from injuries by working with them on a regular basis. Although physical therapy is less physically intense, it does require further education in the area of sports and medicine.

    Diet and Nutrition

    • Although dietitians and nutritionists focus more on eating habits than sports, they still play a crucial role in the success of an athlete. They work alongside athletes to help them maximize their success by studying the way food affects an individual’s strength and metabolism.