Course Feature: Sport Management
Centenary added a new Sport Management major at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. The sport management major provides students with leadership, business, operations, and analytical skills useful within the sport industry. The major covers economics, finance, marketing, sales, law, product development, and facility management.
We spoke with Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Dr. Daniel Krywaruczenko, about the foundational course for the major, Introduction to Sport Management. The course is designed to give students an introduction into the field of sport management and introduces students to a variety of managerial topics that will provide a foundation of business in the sports industry. The course focuses on basic management skills necessary in the operation of a number of sports organizations. Throughout the course students complete weekly assignments, engage in discussions based on course readings, and are required to attend an on-campus sporting event.
What is your favorite aspect of teaching this course?
The overall discussion involving the actual sport operation side of professional sports is a topic that I enjoy the most! From touching on the different salary caps of respective professional sports leagues to looking at how teams are structured in terms of scouts, director of player personnel, general manager, and so forth really is fascinating to me.
How do you decide what to cover in the course? What influences your choices?
I follow the textbook in terms of what to cover, but the hope is to cover all professions related to sport. At the end of the day, this is an introductory course in sport management, so I want students to hear about the various professions one can pursue within sport.
What do you hope students take away from the course?
The hope is that students will realize that there are a variety of opportunities related to sport beyond being a professional player or a coach. I want them to see the opportunities in sales, marketing, sponsorship, facility and event management, and beyond. I'm also hoping some of the students will be excited about at least one of the opportunities discussed in the course and consider pursuing a B.S. in Sport Management or a Minor in Sport Management.
Dr. Daniel Krywaruczenko is the Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Centenary. He holds a Ph.D. in sport administration from the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque and also earned master’s degrees in psychology, economics, and statistics following his undergraduate training in mathematics and business administration.