Sports Administration
The way we think of sports has drastically changed over the years; these days few people would say that a sports is “just a game.” Indeed, sports provide serious entertainment and big business in this country, and sports managers are crucial to ensuring that the players, fans, coaches, and financial backers coexist peacefully.
St. Thomas University’s Sports Administration program teaches the business behind the game, allowing you to become part of the team. You will gain a strong foundation of knowledge in the field of business, examining how the worlds of business and sports interact and how you can make those interactions more profitable and beneficial for every person and interest involved. In addition, you will learn how to market sports effectively and how to plan events, diving into the areas of sports publicity, budgeting, and administration. An interdisciplinary field, sports administration encompasses elements of economics, accounting, marketing, psychology, law, and communications.
We are located in one of the largest sports markets in the world, South Florida – an unmatched natural laboratory setting for students to gain experience in all areas of sports. The Fernandez Family Center for Leadership and Wellness affords students the opportunity to connect classroom theory to experiential learning.
Having started the first Sports Administration undergraduate program in the nation in 1972, St. Thomas University has long been a recognized leader in the business of sports. Our network of over 1500 alumni (Bachelors, Masters, JD, DBA) have careers in nearly every aspect of the sports industry.
Some of our successful Sports Administration Alumni in South Florida include Andy Elisburg, Senior VP/General Manager for the Miami Heat; Tony Lopez, Deputy Town Mayor for the Town of Miami Lakes; Claudia Avila, CONCACAF Financial Planning and Analysis Supervisor; Mitch Morrall, Chief Administrative Office for the Orange Bowl; and Joe Cimino, Equipment Manager for the Miami Dolphins.
Nationally, we have many highly placed alumni in professional, collegiate, and amateur sports. Counted among our many Spo-Ad success stories are Al Avila, former VP/General Manager for the Detroit Tigers; Teresa Resch, VP of Basketball Operations & Player Development for the Toronto Raptors, Michael Kelly, Vice President for Athletics at University of South Florida; Patrick Lindsey, Tournament Director for Shriners Hospitals for Children Open; and Dave Gettleman, former General Manager for the New York Giants.
