CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN ACE AND SM
Those seeking a degree in Athletic Coaching Education or Sport Management have a host of varied and different career paths they may chose from. Becoming certified to coach on the high school or college level is the primary objective of the ACE program. Serving in an administrative role with business or collegiate sports is one of the primary objectives of the Sport Management program.
With ACE degrees one can pursue coaching jobs from leading recreational sports to coaching on the professional and/or Olympic levels. These can be part-time or full-time professions. One can earn just a few thousand dollars per year or well over a million dollars a year depending on the level, sport, and location. We also see individuals with ACE degrees working in recreational industries, wellness and fitness centers, adventure seeking tourism positions, etc. Many want to coach on the high school or collegiate level. Some seek employment in private clubs, resorts, cruise lines, city parks, etc. Those wishing to teach with an ACE degree normally seek additional teacher certification or master’s degrees depending upon the individual state requirements.
According to the ERIC Clearinghouse on Teacher Education Washington, DC, recent statistics show there are 350,000 coaches on the high school level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that college coaches and scouts held 217,000 jobs in 2006. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts that the employment of athletic related positions will increase by 15% between 2006-2016.
Salaries.com list that the median income documented in April 2009 for personal trainers was $52,156 and the medium income listed for fitness instructors was $46,015. The average salaries of college head football coaches in the top 120 Division I institutions was 1 million in 2007, according to USA Today. It further reported that the average salary for head coaches whose teams reached the Men’s NCAA Tournament was approximately $800,000. per year. With lower profile sports the head positions paid significantly less per year.
Those graduating with Sport Management degrees often pursue career paths as athletic directors on the high school or collegiate levels. They also work on the college level as assistant athletic directors, sport information directors, compliance directors, recreational directors, etc. Some in Sport Management go into business in the area of the sporting goods industry. Additional opportunities exist in sales, marketing, broadcasting, public relations, event coordination, fund raising and a host of other occupations.
The multibillion-dollar sports industry pays salaries that vary significantly. On the collegiate level Sport Information Directors often begin employment as assistants in salary ranges from $25,000 to $30,000 per year. Salary.com listed an Assistant Athletic Director – Academic Compliance median expected income as $70,298 in April 2009. It also listed athletic directors at colleges and universities making a median salary of $94,406. in 2006.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2008, ...”marketing managers earned a yearly median salary of $118,160, PR managers earned $101,220 and PR Specialists earned $58,960”. It also listed professional team managers who work at major league teams making over 1 million a year and agents who manage professional teams making millions a year.
It can easily been seen that the job opportunities and salary levels in Athletic Coaching Education and Sport Management vary greatly. A degree in either program will enable an individual to pursue several different avenues in a professional career with salary levels which can be modest or excessive.