SUMMERDALE, Pa. (January 16, 2023) Sports fans inspired by the likes of Tom Cruise’s iconic Jerry Maguire and real-life sports managers like the Philadelphia Eagles’ Howie Roseman can now gain real-life training at Central Penn College in how to manage a team at the professional, semi-professional, and recreational levels.
Central Penn College’s new online 18-credit certificate in sport management, as well as a new concentration in sports management as part of a bachelor’s degree in business, give sports fans the opportunity to channel their passion for competition into a rewarding career in the fun, fast-growing field of sports.
The program will be launched in the spring and led by Brian M. Howells, Jr., who has been a professor at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University since 2014 before coming to Central Penn College. He has taught courses in business, health, physical education, and special education. Howells was also a Division I athlete in football and track, a secondary school administrator, an athletic director, and a coach with 16 years of experience at the youth sports through college levels.
“I have a passion for sports and helping others and am extremely excited to start this journey with the students at Central Penn College,” Howells said.
“I think it’s extremely important to major in something that (1) you are passionate about and (2) that you can have a career doing. Sports management positions are estimated to grow by almost 30 percent, so the jobs will be there,” he added.
The courses at Central Penn, he explained, will cover topics such as coaching, leadership and current issues that student-athletes and sports lovers will enjoy.
As a college football player, Howells said he had such a love for the game that he would have loved to major in football, but he knew he needed more real-world skills for a long-term career.
“I relate to athletes and students who love sports, so I want to make my classes enjoyable to take, while teaching the knowledge and real-life application to prepare students for rewarding careers after college,” he said.
Sports management involves far more than just recruiting talented athletes. It also includes exercise science, accounting, psychology, sociology, promotions, and more.
The sports management degree will train students for careers that include athletic director, coach, contract negotiator, event coordinator, public relations manager, sports agent, sports psychologist, corporate wellness coach, and more.
“If you are a student who loves sports and are passionate about doing something after college in the field of sports, then a degree in sports management opens many possibilities for you,” Howells said.
To enroll, or for more information, students are encouraged to visit https://www.centralpenn.edu/certificate-program/
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About Central Penn College
Central Penn College gives students the educational foundation to turn potential into professional success. Since 1881, the college has been a leading source of career-focused education for students in Pennsylvania and beyond. Strategically located in Summerdale, near the seat of state government and major private and public employers, Central Penn College offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificate programs in a variety of professional fields. For more information, visit www.centralpenn.edu.
