MS in Sport Management – Coaching and Athletic Admin
Study How to Make a Difference in the Lives of Athletes with a Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration
Remember that coach who encouraged you to go beyond what you thought you could achieve? Or the athletic director whose leadership brought your team together through hours of training and a shared sense of purpose? If you’ve been inspired by these experiences, Liberty University’s Master of Science (MS) in Sport Management – Coaching and Athletic Administration can help you develop the knowledge and skills to pursue a similar path of influence.
This coaching and sport administration program is designed to support those interested in coaching or leading athletic programs. In this program, you can explore how to guide school sport programs and develop foundational leadership principles. Through coursework and mentorship, you can work to grow in confidence and develop strategies that may help you navigate the responsibilities of athletic administration.
At Liberty, you have the opportunity to learn from faculty who are committed to academic excellence and spiritual encouragement. As a nonprofit, Christian university, we seek to provide a learning environment marked by integrity, care, and meaningful faculty-student connections. Whether you’re looking to deepen your impact as a coach or explore a leadership role in athletics, this program offers the space to grow both personally and professionally.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
COSMA Accredited
Highlights
Highlights of our Graduate Sports Management – Coaching and Athletic Administration Program
Enroll in an Accredited Sports Management Program
Our sports management programs are accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). You can be confident that your sports management program is high-quality and academically rigorous.
Original Research Opportunities
In this sport management program, you will complete original research to culminate your program through the creation of a thesis project. This is an excellent opportunity for you to demonstrate mastery of the subject material you studied in your program.
Focused on Christian Values
All courses at Liberty University are taught from a Christian perspective to support our mission of Training Champions for Christ. You can practice and develop your faith both inside and outside the classroom.
Incredible Sports Programs on Campus
Liberty is home to 20 NCAA Division I athletic programs, 40+ club sports teams, and 20+ different intramural sports including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, flag football, and indoor and outdoor soccer. You can leverage these opportunities to interact with student athletes and observe team dynamics.
State-of-the-Art School of Business Facilities
Our School of Business has its own 3-story, 78,000-square-foot building on campus that contains a 2,000-square-foot Entrepreneurship Center for Innovation; information technology labs and a networking and data center; a grand lobby and a 500-seat auditorium; innovative classrooms and meeting spaces; and a simulated stock trading room.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with a Sports Management – Coaching and Athletic Administration Degree?
Liberty University’s Master of Science in Sports Management with a specialization in Coaching and Athletic Administration can help prepare you for the following occupations:
- Athletic administrator
- Collegiate athletic administrator
- Director of operations for facility and arena management
- High school/college coach
- Professional sport manager
- Recreation and tourism manager
- Sport communication and public relations practitioner
- Sport compliance/governance facilitator
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Sport Management: Coaching and Athletic Administration Degree?
Sharpen your leadership and mentorship skills with Liberty’s coaching and athletic administration master’s degree. You’ll take courses in strategic player development and sport governance to better understand the logistics of the sport industry and player motivations. By focusing on successful coaching philosophies and the holistic development of athletes, your coursework can help you learn how to coach.
By pursuing the thesis track for the coaching and athletic administration specialization, you will have courses dedicated to helping you complete a thesis proposal, research, and defense of your thesis. Additionally, you will examine the implications of sports on communities and society as a whole. As a nonprofit, Christian university, we integrate a faith-based approach to these issues, as well as a specific course on ethics in sport and sport ministry opportunities. Courses can also help you prepare for the legal and financial aspects of sport management.
Featured Coaching and Athletic Admin Courses
SMGT 501 – Social Issues in Sport Management
SMGT 621 – Advanced Coaching Theory
SMGT 622 – Strategic Player Development
SMGT 623 – Sport Governance
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Business
- Required thesis
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Coaching and Athletic Administration Graduate Degree?
Strengthen the Skills That Set You Apart
To stand out as a coach or athletic director, you’ll need more than just a passion for sports, you’ll need the soft skills that define great leaders. At Liberty, our master’s in coaching and athletic administration is designed to help you develop essential strengths like communication, teamwork, decision-making, and organization. You can also grow in ethical leadership, a quality that sets you apart in both professional and academic settings.
Experts Who’ve Been There
Throughout your program, you’ll be guided by experienced faculty who combine academic excellence with real-world expertise. Every professor brings not only a doctorate in their field but also years of hands-on experience in coaching, athletic administration, or sports management. They’re here to mentor you personally, offering one-on-one guidance and support as you pursue your degree and prepare for your career.
Train in a World-Class Athletic Environment
At Liberty, you’ll have access to top-tier facilities that reflect the excellence of our athletics program. From our NCAA Division I stadium and natatorium to our 20 Division I teams and over 40 club sports programs, you’ll find countless opportunities to gain real-world experience and deepen your understanding of the sports industry. Whether you’re studying in the classroom or on the field, you’ll be immersed in a culture of excellence.
Graduate with Confidence and a Competitive Edge
This program doesn’t just prepare you for a title, it can help prepare you for leadership. By the time you complete your field-specific thesis, you’ll have the academic credentials, professional training, and applied experience to pursue high-level roles in coaching or athletic administration. When you leave Liberty, you won’t just have a degree, you’ll have a resume that reflects both your knowledge and your potential.
Admissions
How Do You Become a Graduate Sports Management Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.