MAA Careers

Having a competitive edge is just as important in your career as it is on the playing field. And earning an online Master of Athletic Administration (MAA) from Ohio University can be your biggest advantage.

Our program is designed to help you develop your leadership, management, data analysis, and strategic planning abilities — skills that can truly impact your success as a high school or middle school athletic director and enhance your value as a sports-industry professional.

When you earn your OHIO degree, you can better position yourself to advance in your current job or qualify for new opportunities. Read on to learn more about a career as an athletic director, as well as other career options with transferrable skills.

The Benefits of Earning Your Master of Athletic Administration Degree

Now is a great time to set yourself apart in the rapidly growing field of sports administration.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts 13% growth for education administrators, the sector that includes interscholastic athletic directors, between 2020 and 2030. It anticipates an increase of 6,400 new jobs during this period.

The outlook in the broader sports industry is also positive. The BLS reports that the number of sports and entertainment occupations is expected to increase by 22% from 2020 to 2030, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

By earning your master’s degree from Ohio University, home to the premier sports education program in the world, you can be at the head of the field among interscholastic athletic directors and sports administrators.

Click here to learn more about how your OHIO MAA can help you professionally.

What Does an Athletic Director Do?

Athletic directors are responsible for overseeing all aspects of an education-based athletic program. This can include hiring and supervising coaches and staff, managing facilities, promoting athletic competitions, and ordering equipment.

Typical roles and responsibilities:

• Interviewing, hiring, and supervising coaches and athletic staff
• Ensuring the athletic department complies with rules and regulations
• Providing direction and guidance for the athletic program
• Monitoring academic eligibility of student-athletes
• Collaborating with the school board regarding athletic programs
• Serving as a spokesperson for the school, department or team
• Preparing budgets and allocating resources
• Marketing the athletic program and its teams
• Coordinating travel to games
• Maintaining and enhancing athletic facilities
• Communicating with the state’s athletic association

Important skills for a career as an athletic director: 

• Leadership
• Management
• Communication
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Strategic planning
• Teaching
• Problem solving
• Budgeting
• Scheduling

What Else Can You Do with a Master’s in Athletic Administration?

Ohio University’s master’s in athletic administration program primarily focuses on preparing you for a career as an athletic director at the high school and middle school levels, but it can also equip you for a variety of other administrative roles in interscholastic athletics.

In addition to athletic director, our graduates have obtained positions such as facility manager, site coordinator, event manager, and more.

Degree recipients have also gone on to careers in college athletics, managing recreational sports facilities and programs, and working for companies that provide goods and services for interscholastic athletic programs.

Lifelong Career Support 

With so many opportunities available to you, choosing the right career track might feel overwhelming. That’s where we can help. When you earn your Master of Athletic Administration from OHIO, you become a Bobcat for life.

Whether it’s lifetime access to career coaching or networking opportunities with more than 250,000 fellow OHIO alumni, you can take comfort in knowing that we’ll be with you every step of the way as you strive to achieve your professional goals.