Compete in an emerging field.
The sports industry is extremely competitive, that’s why at Finlandia we give you the skills and knowledge to not only learn the ins and outs, but also business in general. The sports industry is a business, and understanding business principles gives students a competitive edge.
Finlandia encourages every student to find multiple internships, both locally and nationally. Internships are the best way to discover strengths and weaknesses within the sports industry. Working for multiple teams, both big and small will help students find their niche.
Leading the Pride talks with Austrian Lukas Alberer (’08). Alberer, a Sports Management major and former hockey player for the Lions, currently works at Johnson & Johnson-Ethicon in Austria as a Business Development Manager.
Listen as host Olivia Myers and Alberer talk about his decision to move to the United States to play hockey, the struggle of losing one’s identity as an athlete after college and his journey to finding a career he’s passionate about.
Given the nature of sports, the skills learned outside of the classroom are just as important as the ones learned in the classroom. One of the skills emphasized is networking. Meeting and helping others in the field will make all the difference when the time comes to job hunt. Finlandia faculty, alumni and local business owners are all great resources to connect with and willing to help.
"Find a way to get involved in sports. It could be at the collegiate or even youth level, but it is important to gain some experience to add to your resume. A degree is great, but internships, or any sort of involvement, can really separate someone from other candidates competing for similar positions."
“I was swayed to attend Finlandia because of the sports management program and I had classmates in Finland that spoke very highly of their experience while at Finlandia. I loved it. I found the curriculum to be very engaging, and it aligned to my interests better than I thought possible. I also made the Finlandia University’s NCAA Division III hockey team. Even though I mainly watched the games from a press box, I made some great friends, and those guys were a big part of my experience at Finlandia.”
“Just be open. You never know where life will take you and if some things don’t work out for you, don’t crumble. Get up, do it with Finlandia pride, with Lion pride, because things will come your way.”
Finlandia is home to 12 NCAA Division III sports. Students in the sports management concentration have the chance to work with these sports throughout the year, gaining valuable knowledge and skills directly related to college athletics. Some students who want to specialize in coaching have the option to assistant coach a team.
Experiential assignments give the students a learn-by-doing mentality during their time in the program. By engaging in assignments, students can learn the practical skills and industry trends that will be used not just professional sports, but in any sports setting such as; recreation, high school or collegiate level.
July 31, 2018
The Knowledge Review, an international education magazine for universities, students, teachers and parents, named Finlandia University one of the Top 10 Best Institutes for a Career in Sports and Athletics 2018.
Non-athlete careers in athletics can range anywhere from sports marketing and sales to physical therapists and trainers.
The Knowledge Review cites Finlandia’s major offerings as one of the main reasons for the ranking. While FinnU does offer a sports management program, it’s marketing and graphic design, physical therapist assistant and biology program can also open doors into the sports world. Read more here.
January 3, 2018
It was 4 a.m. when Ilkka Kortesluoma first arrived in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Philadelphia Flyers still remembers stepping off that bus into the fresh middle-of-the-night late-summer Keweenaw air. The late night soon gave way to morning light, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Finnish exchange student began. He finished his last year of university in Finlandia University’s International School of Business. It didn’t take long for the outgoing Finn to fall in love with his new surroundings.
Even before attending FinnU, Kortesluoma had a strong desire to chase a career path in the growing sports management industry. That desire didn’t instantly lead to success, though. Instead it was a long path of low-yield job applications, low-pay and hard work. Read more of Krotseluoma’s story here.
Sports management alum takes job with AHL’s WildSeptember 21, 2017
Jason Aldrich (’11) was recently introduced as Equipment Manager and Strength Coach of the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild, minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild. Aldrich is a 2011 graduate of Finlandia’s Sports Management program, and played for FinnU’s NCAA Division III hockey program. Read more about Jason here.
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program, International School of Business graduates will be able to do the following:
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Dean, International School of Business Associate Professor of Management & Marketing
kevin.manninen@finlandia.eduAssistant Professor, Sports Management, ISB
Associate Director of Athletics