Athletic careers are limited by nature. The human body can only withstand so much strain, and even the most talented professionals often need to step away from physical competition and focus on other opportunities. 

For some, the natural next step involves sports management. This allows them to remain firmly embedded within the sports industry while echoing the fast pace and emotional heights previously captured on the field. However, this transition can be tricky to pull off, requiring refined skills, a strong network and a shift in mentality. 

Eager to explore front-office opportunities? Below, we will reveal how to start a career in sports management and how the right degree can amplify sports experience.  

Why Athletes Are Well-Positioned for Sport Management Roles

While it is possible to succeed in management roles without playing experience, many of the most successful front-office figures excelled on the field before transitioning into management. Former athletes are uniquely qualified to take on management roles since they have observed firsthand what it takes to lead teams to success.  

Built-In Leadership and Team Dynamics

The most successful organizations in sports rely on strong leadership structures, in which clearly defined leaders create and maintain a winning culture. Many teams rely on captains who embody this leadership on the field. From Roy Keane at Manchester United to Siya Kolisi with the South African rugby union team, teams prize passionate captains who lead by example. 

Perhaps the best example of a team captain who seamlessly transitioned to the front office is Detroit Red Wings legend  Steve Yzerman, he captained for about 20 years during his 22 seasons as a player. Following a successful athletic career, Yzerman immediately transitioned to a vice president of hockey operations, eventually becoming the general manager of the Red Wings in 2019. 

Discipline, Resilience and Time Management

New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra once quipped, “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” Berra was known for these folksy “Yogi-isms,” but he was also one of the most decorated athletes of all time, winning ten World Series titles with the Yankees. His unique take on the mental aspects of sporting success rings true to this day. He recognized that it takes a special brand of drive, discipline, and desire to excel.  

Athletes must also master the art of time management, prioritizing the tasks that will give them an advantage over their opponents. They structure their time around performance, emphasizing nutrition, training, and recovery. Like athletes, front-office personnel must be purposeful about how they allocate their time, tackling everything from scouting to contract negotiations.  

Understanding the Shift from Performance to Operations

As they transition to office roles, athletes must be intentional about translating their on-field habits into the operational side of the game. When former athletes shift their mindset, they recognize that excellence no longer comes down to individual performance. Rather, it relies on a structure and environment that helps everyone in the organization thrive. 

From Individual Performance to Organizational Strategy

Although many athletes are well-positioned to excel in management, not all can actually handle the unique pressures of front-office leadership. Ted Williams — arguably the greatest hitter of all-time — burned out as a manager because he struggled to bring his intense focus from the baseball field into the office. Others, however, have found great satisfaction in this shift, enjoying the broader influence that comes with strategic roles.  

New Responsibilities Athletes Must Learn

From grade-school soccer to the NFL, athletes at all levels must be flexible and willing to tackle new techniques or mindsets. This does not change once players reach the front office. In fact, in management, adaptability is even more crucial, as leaders must increasingly be willing to explore tech-forward solutions. 

Adaptability allows future leaders to experiment with new disciplines. For example, they may begin to explore the financial side of sports management, overseeing departmental budgets or tracking vendor-related expenditures. They might also forecast revenue and expenses based on seasonal trends, using accounting principles to make informed decisions. 

Challenges Former Athletes May Face in the Sport Industry

Former athletes may hold competitive advantages, but they may still struggle to find entry-level positions in sports management. Even more challenging? Proving management potential and continuing the climb through the ranks to take on strategic or leadership roles. Athlete-specific obstacles include: 

Hiring Timelines That Work Against Graduates

Due to the seasonality of college and professional sports, it can be difficult for new graduates to find the roles they desire. With baseball and soccer mainly hiring in the spring — and basketball and hockey organizations typically filling positions in the fall — graduates looking for work may need to spend considerable time waiting for the appropriate hiring cycle to begin.  

Unrealistic “Entry-Level” Expectations

Some athletes may feel as if their athletic prowess and achievements are good enough to land them in mid-level roles as soon as they finish playing professionally. Employers, however, are more concerned about former athletes’ academic achievements and work history than their on-field accolades. 

A respondent highlighted in the Sport Management Education Journal explained a familiar paradox between requirements surrounding work experience in sports and the struggle to gain said experience, even for entry-level roles: “Entry positions, they would ask for five years of previous experience…it was ridiculous [to] ask for five years of previous experience….Five years is a management position.” 

Competition and Insider Hiring Practices

The unfortunate reality of the sports world is that the same forces that can help ex-players land off-field jobs can also work against them. While some organizations may be inclined to hire decorated athletes or those who represent favored teams, others may worry that ex-athletes will struggle with the technical side of the front office. 

As they transition to management roles, athletes must compete not only against candidates with front-office training and experience but also against fellow athletes with similar management ambitions. For example, former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Derek Fisher and Brian Shaw were both candidates for the New York Knicks job, with Fisher ultimately filling the role. 

Location Dependency and Relocation

It can be difficult for anyone looking for a job to expand their search footprint and potentially uproot themselves. College athletes, in particular, may struggle to leave environments that have granted them so many opportunities to flourish. 

Unfortunately, some regions provide limited sports management opportunities, forcing former athletes to consider relocation. The Sport Management Education Journal draws attention to the logistical challenges of relocation, as well as the “significant financial commitment and cultural adjustment.”  

Letting Go of Athlete Identity

The emotional component of shifting from an athlete’s mindset to a manager’s mindset warrants attention. Research shows that many athletes struggle to adjust to life off the field. While front-office achievements can provide a viable replacement for on-field excitement, success is only possible if former athletes rethink what it means to excel. They must define themselves not through points scored but rather via long-term industry impact, which can be difficult to quantify. 

What Does This Mean for Sport Management Graduates?

The knowledge athletes gain through their playing careers is valuable, but it does not always translate to business settings. Enrolling in sports management programs can help athletes develop the skills and insight they need for front-office success. 

Realistic Expectations About Career Timelines and Entry Points

It is natural for former athletes to feel excited about exploring the front office, but they must approach the job market with realistic expectations. A new degree, a deep network of contacts and a sparkling on-field performance can be helpful, but a lack of work experience in sports can still feel like a significant limitation in a competitive job market. 

There is no shame in pursuing entry-level positions. These provide early exposure, allowing future leaders to explore various sports management specializations while expanding their professional networks. Theo Epstein, for example, played high school baseball but recognized early on that his real contributions lay in operations and strategy. He started as an intern for the Baltimore Orioles; within a decade, he was the GM of the Boston Red Sox, even helping to break the Curse of the Bambino. 

Importance of Networking, Internships and Connections

Robust athletic networks grant former athletes a sizable advantage over other aspiring sports management professionals. Still, they must make the most of these connections and continue to develop new relationships. This also involves a shift in branding, ensuring that contacts are aware of management ambitions. Ideally, professional contacts will come to view former athletes as business-savvy and capable of ongoing success in the front office. Former athletes can build this perception through internship experiences, which helps them showcase their skills in front-office environments.  

Theo Epstein’s story demonstrates the enduring value of networking. He reached out to Orioles team executive, Calvin Hill, and interned for multiple years before he was finally hired as a public relations assistant. 

Jim Rantz also reveals the power of persistence. He played baseball for the University of Minnesota and then the Washington Senators (the precursor to the Minnesota Twins), eventually transitioning to an internship with the Twins’ media relations. He ultimately became the Director of Minor League Operations.  

Key Skills Athletes Should Highlight When Transitioning

Athletes can leverage strong professional networks to support a seamless transition to sports management, but they must also position themselves as capable business professionals with strong leadership potential. This is accomplished by addressing skill gaps via higher education and internships — as well as by drawing attention to relevant skills gained through sports experience.  

Insights from the Sport Management Education Journal remind us that, while former athletes face significant challenges, their transitions can feel manageable and even exciting.  

Leadership and Teamwork

Some of today’s most iconic business leaders draw on their athletic experience. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and former head of eBay Meg Whitman, for example, both used the fierce mindset acquired through college athletics to excel in the business world. 

The very abilities that inspire spectacular on-field performance and team chemistry can also drive success in corporate and office environments. Former athletes can draw attention to these qualities by detailing how they improved morale as team captains or provided coaching and mentoring for other athletes.  

Performance Analysis and Feedback

Former athletes have a unique ability to analyze and understand what is happening on the field of play. Many now rely on data-driven strategies to improve training and nutrition. This data-oriented approach extends off the field, driving decisions surrounding recruitment, development and even salary cap management. 

Aspiring leaders can emphasize their analytical skills and technological expertise, showing that they are prepared to use data to break down operational challenges as intently as they once analyzed game-day footage.  

Accountability and Work Ethic

Employers prize availability, accountability, and work ethic. It is easy to find these traits in ex-athletes who would not have been able to compete without them. Being part of an athletic team requires commitment and motivation; employers often recognize that candidates with an athletic background have the kind of drive needed to excel in the management world. 

Communication Under Pressure

Billie Jean King once said, “pressure is a privilege.” The best athletes and sports management professionals recognize this, facing considerable pressure as they train or make strategic decisions while also using that pressure to drive improvement.  

Athletes seeking entry-level positions in sports management should highlight their ability to communicate and thrive under pressure, demonstrating that, as the stakes increase, they remain locked in. 

Strategic Thinking and Adaptability

Mike Tyson famously encapsulated the unpredictable nature of sports by explaining, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” In sports management, planning remains critical, but strategic foresight must be accompanied by the ability to pivot on a moment’s notice. Former athletes can demonstrate their strategic insight and adaptable qualities by using their on-field ability to quickly adjust under pressure and handle new challenges.  

Is Sport Management the Next Step? Hear From a Sports Management Student

Antigone Sanabria reveals what the transition from athletics to sports management can look like, particularly when it involves the ideal blend of passion and support. She found great success in college basketball and even signed with the Las Atenienses de Manatí in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF) league. 

As a sports management student, Sanabria enjoyed the interactive learning experiences that highlighted real-life sports scenarios. She explained that her professors truly cared about her success and that her education in sports management translated well into the organizational culture of business environments.  

Build Sports Management Momentum with Keiser University

Your competitive mindset could fuel an exciting career in sports management. Prepare by enrolling in Keiser University’s Master of Science in Sport Management and Operations (MSSMO). Along the way, you will discover what it takes to expand your strategic impact and shape the future of the sports industry. 

At Keiser University, we are eager to provide support and encouragement as you learn how to start a career in sports management. Contact a graduate admissions counselor today to learn more.