Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become a sports director. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in a sports director.

  • Most companies require a sports director to have a bachelor's degree degree in a related field, such as communication or kinesiology.

  • It's important to have relevant work experience, with typical job requirements ranging from 4-6 years in related fields.

  • Common job titles before becoming a sports director include internship, sports anchor, and sales associate.

  • Hiring managers expect a sports director to have soft skills such as leadership skills, time-management skills, and communication skills.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become a sports director.

  • Getting a certification as a Certified Personal Trainer will help you to earn more as a sports director.

How to become a Sports Director in 6 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore sports director education
  • Step 2: Develop sports director skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Research sports director duties
  • Step 5: Prepare your resume
  • Step 6: Get sports director experience

Key Steps To Become a Sports Director

  1. Explore Sports Director Education

    If you're interested in becoming a sports director, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 79.2% of sports directors have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 7.9% of sports directors have master's degrees. Even though most sports directors have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a sports director. When we researched the most common majors for a sports director, we found that they most commonly have communication, kinesiology and journalism.

    Sports Director Degrees

    Bachelors

    79.2 %

    Masters

    7.9 %

    Associate

    7.9 %

    Sports Director MajorPercentages
    Communication19.50%
    Kinesiology18.40%
    Journalism13.30%
    Business9.30%
    Other Degrees39.30%

  2. Develop Sports Director Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop sports director skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in sports director job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Soccer10.01%
    CPR7.99%
    Softball6.20%
    Volleyball6.03%
    Sports Stories5.48%

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Sports directors spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new sports directors learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as a sports director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sports director resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    4-10 years

  4. Research Sports Director Duties

    When you decide to become a sports director, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most sports director jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Manage five beats as reporter for ABC affiliate, including medical correspondent.
    • Manage all programs, staff, and facilities within the sports and teen department to meet customer needs.
    • Lead presentations and discussions on topics such as leadership, teamwork, and dedication for club sports teams.
    • Manage adult basketball and volleyball programs.
    • Edit video clips to ensure quality highlights.
    • Provide station engineering for new FM stations.

  5. Get Sports Director Experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a sports director. The most common roles before becoming a sports director include internship, sports anchor team lead and sales associate.

  6. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Sports Director Resume templates

    Build a professional Sports Director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Sports Director resume.

    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume
    Sports Director Resume

  7. Apply For a Sports Director Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Sports Director Jobs

  8. How To Become a Sports Director
    How To Become a Sports Director Career Overview