College of Business

Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching

Shaping Sports Excellence

Leveraging the strengths of Western New England University’s expertise in sport management and leadership education, the Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching is a game-changing program. The 30-credit program offers two cohort tracks in Athletic Administration and Athletic Coaching. The program is taught by expert faculty from the University’s AACSB International accredited College of Business, nationally renowned Klein Group Instrument (KGI®) leadership creator, and Management and Leadership faculty. The program offers a convenient learning model consisting of two required one-week residencies, one offered at the beginning of the program and the other at the end. Each residency is followed by a series of graduate courses that will be offered online.

Why Choose the Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching?

The MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching is ideal for students seeking to enter athletic administration (educationally-based sport organizations), athletic coaching, or managerial positions within any sport organization. The program is also a great choice for rising and mid-career sport industry professionals who are seeking to advance their skills in the areas of leadership, decision-making, team building, fundraising, marketing, legal and compliance aspects, and related functional competencies. Our program will help students develop the skills to build and manage a team, assess and recruit talent, and to create a high performing business enterprise that supports organizational and individual success. View our current tuition rates.

What to Expect Sport

“The faculty within the sport management program have been phenomenal across the board. There's a tremendous amount of resources available, there's a tremendous amount of support from the professors and the faculty.”–Colin Tabb

What Will You Study?

Viewing the sport organization as a business enterprise, coursework is focused on:

Leadership theory, personal leadership assessment, directed leadership development mentoring based on the Klein Group Instrument (KGI) model of positive social psychology, and team dynamics
Organizational theory and team behavior
Data-based decision making and problem solving sport analytics
Revenue development elements including fundraising, sponsorship, and related traditional and non-traditional sport revenue streams
Evaluation and development of on-field and administrative teams through theoretical constructs and models related to management and recruitment of player and team personnel, including player evaluation and representation through sport agencies
International sport and cross cultural perspectives
Innovative strategies for sport marketing, sport sales, and promotions
Legal aspects of sport, governance, oversight, compliance, and ethical dimensions
A mentored capstone research project and linked field experience

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Curriculum Academic Calendars Current Course Offerings

Top Five Reasons to Choose The MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching

In Demand Leadership Skills for Advancement and Professional Mobility

Leveraging the strengths of Western New England University's expertise in sport management and leadership education, the Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching promotes holistic development of skills that will help you yield top team and staff performance.

Emphasis on Operational and Analytical Skills Building

Our one-of-a-kind curriculum will help you to develop critical functional skills for developing and managing the business side of sport programs, including fundraising, marketing, recruitment, staff development, and compliance strategies. You will also learn to enhance your decision-making and problem solving skills utilizing Sport Analytics.

Our Faculty is in a League of Its Own

Our faculty include sport industry professionals with decades of experience in sport agency, resource development, athletics administration and compliance, operations management, and coaching. They'll teach you how to create synergies on teams and develop the strategies to inspire and support player and staff long-term social growth. Recognized leadership experts, including Dr. Robert Klein, creator of the Klein Group Instrument®, will give you unique insights into the development of universal skills for small groups or team contexts.

A Master's Degree from an AACSB International-accredited Institution

Western New England University is the only private institution in western Massachusetts accredited by AACSB International, and among fewer than 5% of business schools in the world. Member institutions confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive multiyear review.

Online Learning and Short-term Residencies that Fit Your Schedule

Our blend of online learning and skill-enhancing residencies, coupled with multiple terms offered annually, provide you with the flexibility to fit grad school into your schedule and earn your degree in as few as 15 months.

Study the World’s Biggest Games—In Person

Don’t just watch the world’s biggest games, study them in person. MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching graduate students are offered opportunities to engage in study linked to sporting events and facilities, including travel courses that coincide with some of the world’s biggest international sporting events through the University’s Center for International Sport Business.

Tap the Power of Analytics

The program provides students not only with an in-depth understanding of the core concepts necessary to run critical program functional areas like marketing, fundraising, player evaluation, and corporate sponsorship, but also facilitates the development of analytical abilities required to make sound business decisions. Students will learn how to mine and use data through the University’s Business Analytics Center.

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