The passion many Oakland University students have for sports is immense — whether they’re staying up late to watch their favorite team, paying high prices for tickets or working toward a career in the industry they’ve always dreamed of joining.

In recognition, OU has introduced a new sports management minor program this fall, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in the sports industry while developing leadership and business skills that can open doors to a range of professional opportunities.

The minor complements several major programs across the university, including business, communications and health sciences, offering what organizers describe as a unique approach to understanding the sports industry.

“The sports management minor offers interdisciplinary skills and insight applied to the sports industry,” Molly Gustafson, special instructor of marketing in the OU Department of Management and Marketing, said. “The program was designed for students who are passionate about sports and want to transform that passion into a professional pathway, combining classroom learning with real-world experience.”

Gustafson said the new program provides a combination of business education, industry-specific knowledge and access to a variety of professional and community opportunities. These include connections to OU’s Division I athletics programs, Detroit’s professional sports scene and nonprofit sports initiatives making local impacts.

“Our program combines business education, sports industry knowledge and skills, access to Division I athletics, Detroit professional sports, recreation and community-based nonprofit sport initiatives that make a local impact,” Gustafson said.

Janell Townsend, chair of the Department of Management and Marketing, said the university’s goal was to design a program that helps students learn the fundamentals of sports management through a business lens. She emphasized that the department is committed to hiring qualified instructors and industry professionals to teach the courses.

“For example, Paul Sugameli, who teaches the sports law and compliance class, is an attorney and one of only a few licensed FIFA agents in the U.S.,” Townsend said. 

She indicated the minor’s organizers are lining up guest speakers from across the industry and partnering with sports organizations to develop learning opportunities for interested students.

Students can also take advantage of elective courses outside the Department of Management and Marketing to expand their knowledge of the sports field. One example includes a sports journalism elective offered through the Communications department, which provides students a chance to explore media and storytelling aspects of athletics.

The new minor was necessitated by student demand and the growing interest in sports-related careers. The program aims to bridge the gap between students’ love for sports and the practical business and management skills needed to succeed in the field.

“Our goal is to continue building pathways — whether through a concentration, major or graduate option — that support students’ interests and career aspirations,” Gustafson said.

The team is working closely with the athletic department, the Career and Life Design Center, and industry partners to ensure that students have access to opportunities that can enhance their professional development.

Townsend added that sports management is a broad field, encompassing everything from marketing and analytics to compliance and operations. She hopes students use the minor to find their niche within the industry and pursue work that is both meaningful and personally fulfilling. Gustafson said the enthusiasm people have for sports is a powerful motivator, both for fans and professionals.

“It’s a labor of love and the kind of work that keeps you up late, not because you have to, but because you care about what you’re doing,” she said. “Sports bring people together in ways that few other industries can, and I want students to see how their future careers can harness that same energy to change lives through the power of sports.”