In professional sports, the Kobe Bryants and the Cal Ripkens are few and far between. The average career length for most pros in the NBA, NFL, and MLB is far shorter, according to industry website Bleacher Report. “In reality, most professional athletes are back in the general workforce, with the rest of us, within three to five years of being drafted.”
So what do pro athletes do next after they hang up their cleats?
Business Insider reports that among retired NFL players, 48 percent start their own small businesses, work in sales, or manage clients. Another 17 percent transition into sports-related professions. That was the case for Justin King, who played for the St. Louis Rams, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers for over five years before returning to his undergraduate alma mater, Penn State, to join the coaching staff in 2017.
Looking to “add some tools to his toolkit,” King enrolled in the University of Miami’s online MSED –Sport Administration program. Besides being known for its excellent reputation and for fostering networking opportunities with industry leaders, the program’s online format fit King’s busy schedule as an assistant recruiting coordinator for the Nittany Lions.
The coursework is practical and applicable to his daily life, says King, and it builds on his NFL experience. He plans on staying in athletic administration, aspiring to be a director of player personnel in a college football program or transition into the NFL.
Basketball player Chaisson Allen also chose to pursue a career in athletic administration following his five years playing professionally in Europe. Allen, who serves as the University of Miami Men’s Basketball Player Development Assistant, chose to give his new career a boost by taking advantage of the University’s well-respected online MSED -Sport Administration program. “I wanted to learn about the industry more in-depth and learn more about areas such as sport law,” he said.
With courses in finance, marketing, sponsorships, and more, the Sport Administration curriculum introduces students to the legal and business aspects of the industry that they may not have been exposed to as athletes. Whether students choose to pursue coaching, entrepreneurship, or something else after graduation, the MSED –Sport Administration program prepares them for long and rewarding careers in sports.
To find out more, call our advisors at 800-411-2290 or visit the site for more information.
