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Though there are many great sports management schools, program rankings don't lie and the best schools for sports management are Ohio State, University of Oregon, and University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Ohio State:
Ohio State University is one of the top 25 public colleges in the nation. One of the reasons this university is one of the best schools for sports management is because of the internship opportunities available to their students. The internships offered include: Columbus Bluejackets, The Ohio State University Department of Athletics, Ohio High School Athletic Association, Columbus Crew, Columbus Clippers, and Columbus Destroyers. Ohio State offers an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sports Management. The program focuses on intercollegiate athletics, professional sports, university recreational sports, amateur sports administration, and high school athletics. Some of their alumni include John Allen, Chief Operating Officer of the Cincinnati Reds; Randy Buhr, Assistant Director of Championships for the NCAA; Mark Galuska, Director of Marketing for the Columbus Clippers; and Kelly Link, Manager of Athletic Events at Harvard University. Ohio State also offers a Sports Management Association for graduate students to connect with notable alumni. A school as good as this comes at a price, but Ohio State offers many funding opportunities like graduate assistant positions, funding resources from the Office of Recreational Sports, funding resources from the Ohio State Athletic Department, and many funding opportunities that are available campus-wide.
University of Oregon:
The University of Oregon's James H. Warsaw Sports Management Center is different because it's situated in the University of Oregon's college of business instead of an athletic or education college. The Warsaw Sports Management Center has gained praise from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Sports Business Journal for being top of the line in Sports Management education and connections. University of Oregon offers both an undergraduate and an M.B.A degree in Sports Management. The Warsaw Center brings in guest speakers that represent companies such as ABC/ESPN Sports, Nike, Major League Baseball, and Gatorade. They also offer a variety of consulting projects with EA Sports, Adidas, the NBA, and many others. Study tours to China, San Francisco, and New York City are arranged to give students the ability to meet with influential people in their field. Finally, there is a host of internships offered that include the Seattle Seahawks, the Portland Trail Blazers, and IMG. The University of Oregon Warsaw Sports Management Center's connections with big sports teams and big companies is unrivaled. They also provide a Warsaw Sports Business Club that is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. It offers events that include industry speakers and field trips. The faculty consists of the best of the best in business, management, and marketing.
University of Massachusetts in Amherst:
The University of Massachusetts in Amherst is home to the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at Isenberg. The McCormack Department of Sport Management surpasses Ohio State University and the Warsaw Sports Management Center by offering an undergraduate degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate degree. Their students have a reputation for becoming general managers, CEO's, directors of marketing, college athletic directors, conference commissioners, and organizational presidents. The McCormack Department of Sport Management offers 13-week internships so the student can become completely immersed in his / her field for over a month. Students also learn hands-on training at school when they put together a 3-on-3 / 6-on-6 grassroots soccer tournament named SoccerFest and promote it. Another hands-on school opportunity happens during fall semester when students form their own marketing agency and promote events for Mount Snow and the AST Winter Dew Tour. Plus, the McCormack Department of Sport Management offers study abroad trips to Australia. In addition, they provide the only Community Relations course in any Sports Management program. They are also home to various student organizations: Association of Diversity in Sport (ADS), University of Massachusetts Association of Student Sport Managers (UMASSM), and Women in Sport Management (WSM). Through these clubs students make connections and are able to participate in a variety of workshops.
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