College Sports Job Requirements – Degrees, Training, Experience
All the structures and sizes of college athletic departments offer a variety of job types, duties, responsibilities, challenges and opportunities.
Here’s a sampling of the kinds of jobs open to you in colleges and universities, beginning with those requiring specific education and/or experience. In recruiting for these types of jobs, a specific college may consider these requirements as basic, minimal, typical or in some cases, even a desire that they are not set on.
In particular, many positions such as an Athletic Trainer, Head Coach or Athletic Department Director may be open to you with a Bachelor’s Degree – but in reality, these positions at most schools will go to a candidate with a Master of Athletic Administration or similar degree.
Job Type |
Education Required |
Experience Required |
Athletic Trainer (college) |
Master’s Degree |
License, Registration or Certification |
Coach (college) |
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree |
Coaching or athlete |
Assistant Coach (community college) |
Bachelor’s Degree |
Relating with college students |
Associate Director (university) |
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree |
Academic Support Experience |
Athletic Director |
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree |
P.E. Teaching, Coaching |
Physical Ed. Instructor |
Bachelor’s Degree |
Teaching, coaching or sports |
Coordinator, Marketing/Promotions |
Bachelor’s Degree |
1 year, college promotions work |
Athletic Program Development Director |
Bachelor’s Degree |
Fund-raising experience |
Coordinator, Learning Specialist |
Master’s Degree |
Division I Academic Support exp. |
Sports Information Director |
Bachelor’s Degree |
Writing, public relations, media experience |