Combining sports and business into a career
Kinesiology graduate finds success in sport management major
Growing up, Amanda Rodriguez (BS ’14) loved playing sports. She later became involved in her high school’s DECA program and wanted to pursue a business career. Once she got to the University of Minnesota, she learned she could pursue both of these interests through its sport management major. It was an easy decision for her to choose this major in the School of Kinesiology to continue learning about her passions of sports and business.
“This major was the perfect combination of business and sports for me, allowing me to begin a foundation for a career in sports, access to internships in baseball, and the ability to add minors which interested me and supported my eventual degree,” she says.
When asked what her favorite aspects of the sport management BS program were, Rodriguez’s answer pointed to the breadth of knowledge from various experts in the field. She recalled taking courses on marketing, sales and fundraising, ethics and law, management and organization, facilities and event operation, and diversity. Rodriguez cites her practicum working with the Minnesota Twins as a baseball communications intern, guest speakers in classes, and networking opportunities as highlights of her undergraduate career.
“I was extremely prepared for my career in sports through the sport management BS program,” she says. Outside the classroom, Rodriguez was busy getting various experiences to support her future career. Rodriguez completed a membership internship with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. She also held a marketing internship with the St. Paul Saints and baseball communications internship with the Minnesota Twins. Rodriguez says these experiences added to the foundation of her coursework and prepared her for her future career.
Thinking about her experience at the University on a larger scale, Rodriguez appreciated how the U of M is situated in a large sports market, both professionally and in the Big 10. Rodriguez also enjoyed the diverse options of degrees throughout the University, as she had history and mass communication minors in addition to her sport management major.
Currently, Rodriguez is a media relations supervisor at the MLB Network/NHL Network in New Jersey. She enjoys the people she works with, the opportunities to travel, being a part of large events like the MLB All-Star Game, the work-life balance, and the reminders that sports are fun each day.
I was extremely prepared for my career in sports through the sport management BS program
“Never in the world that I began my college career, did I think that there would be one job which would incorporate baseball, hockey, history, mass communications, business, and travel,” she says.
Outside of work, Rodriguez likes to travel with her fiancé, try out new breweries and wineries, attend sporting events, see Broadway shows, and eat ice cream.She also has made it a goal to visit every major league ballpark in the U.S., with only one—Coors Field in Colorado—left to see. Rodriguez is still committed to the University through the alumni association. She is the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut alumni network leader and an alumni network council director.
Through her coursework, extracurriculars, internships, and jobs, Rodriguez has gained a lot of insight to share with others going down a similar path. “Utilize your areas of interest and potential minors to study what interests you,” she says. “It’s your education, you should enjoy it!”
She adds that it is valuable to stay in contact with those who have had profound impacts on you, whether it was personally or professionally.
“Continue to ask them questions, give them personal updates, and if you ask them for references or assistance, circle back to them with a thank you and update, even if you didn’t get the role,” she says. “And if people offer their help, they mean it! Take them up on it and someday you will find yourself in the space to offer your help to others.”
—LAUREN BOIKE
Learn more: kin.umn.edu/undergraduate/sports-management-bs