Meet the Faculty
Meet Dr. Jon Coles, Sport Management Program Coordinator
Sport Management Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore our Sport Management academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Career Resources
Unlock career potential in Sport Management! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Sport Management Internship Sites
Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.
- Grand Rapids Griffins
- Grand Rapids Gold
- West Michigan Whitecaps
- GVSU Athletics
- YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids Christian High School
- City of Holland Recreation
- USA Triathlon
- American Dunes Golf Club
- City of East Grand Rapids
- GVSU ESports
- PowerStrength Training Systems
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.
Business Fundamentals Undergraduate Certificate
Electives to Consider
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Sport Management Study Abroad Options
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Sport Management students can gain another perspective on the sporting standards of the world, learning more about how other nations view sports, and analyzing international business models. Step out into the world, rev up your resume, and earn academic credit by studying abroad in locations such as Australia, Chile, Germany, Japan, Poland, and many more.
Undergraduate Scholar Engagement
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE) provides opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship.
Sport Management Career Spotlights
Sport Management Spotlight (from dept)
Lizzie Raider '22
Hear from Alumna Lizzie Raider about working for the Grand Rapids Griffins
Drew Coble '23
Drew Coble talks about his time working for GVSU Athletics.
10 Questions with Alumni Eddie Alexander
Learn about Eddie Alexander's experiences at GVSU and now at Nascar.
Meet the Faculty
Get to know Dr. Sally Ross!
Where Alumni Have Landed
Check out the Sport Management Program page for a robust list of where alumni have landed
- Operations Assistant – University of Detroit Mercy
- Facilities Coordinator – TI Automotive
- Fitness Advisor – MVP Sports Clubs
- Director of Football Operations – Indiana Wesleyan University
- Ticket Manager – Penn High School
- Operations Manager – Airtime Trampoline & Game Parks
- Women’s Basketball Graduate Assistant – Western Michigan University
- Box Office Assistant – West Michigan Whitecaps
- Assistant Manager/ Adult Hockey League Director - Suburban Sports Group
- Event Coordinator – Palace Sports & Entertainment
- Game Day Operations and Event Coordinator – Indiana University
- Kid’s Club Ambassador – Chicago White Sox
- Store Sales Manager – Zager’s Pool and Spa
- Event Marketing Coordinator – The Dow Event Center
Attend Events
Career Community- Business & Management
Employer of the Day: Plante Moran
January 22, 2026 9:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Seidman College of Business 2nd Floor Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from Plante Moran! Want to learn about exciting career opportunities and...
Employer of the Day: Deloitte
January 29, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Seidman Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from Deloitte! Each semester, we bring top companies right to you on campus! Stop by our casual informational...
JCPenney Suit Up - Winter 2026
February 1, 2026 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...
Employer of the Day: Cintas Corporation
February 5, 2026 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Seidman College of Business Second Floor Lobby anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from Cintas! Each semester, we bring top companies right to you on campus!...
Prepare for the Career Fair (City)
February 9, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Fall GVSU Career and Internship Fair, but not quite sure where to start? The Career Center will be hosting a drop-in event to help you refine your resume, formulate...
Consider joining the Business and Management Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate & Professional Programs
Students with a Sport Management degree may continue on to a graduate program. Here are some examples of programs students have pursued:
- M.S. in Sport Administration
- M.S. in Sport Management
- M.Ed. in Higher Education
- M.A. in Kinesiology
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos to Hear from Alumni Working in the Field
Check out our podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.