The Sports Leadership master’s program in The University of Tulsa’s Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences is beginning its fourth year. Conceived, developed and directed by Clinical Professor of Athletic Training Greg Gardner, the program enrolls approximately 40 students.
“In creating a truly interdisciplinary curriculum, a core part of our mission was to equip students with a sound knowledge base concerning the legal, ethical and regulatory factors driving athletics in the United States and abroad,” commented Gardner. These include evolving case law pertaining to the NCAA and college athletes, as well as regulatory issues that arise, for example, in connection to the NCAA, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Federation of High School Activities Associations.
Each year, Sports Leadership admits between 15 and 20 students. Many of these were college athletes keen to take up careers as coaches or in other areas related to intercollegiate or professional athletics. “The job market now and for the foreseeable future is really healthy,” noted Gardner, “and the versatility of our program means that a multitude of paths open up for our graduates.” These include positions in college and high school coaching, sports media and promotions, gameday operations and sports management.
One person who thrived in in the program is Kennedy Warren (M.S. ’26). A former professional volleyball player in Europe who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston, she serves as an assistant coach at UTulsa. “The Sports Leadership program definitely enhanced my knowledge of so many things in the realm of sports,” said Warren. “I was introduced to an array of topics, from athletic training and professional sports all the way down to high school athletics, legal frameworks and financial aspects. My classes opened my eyes to all the jobs one could have and still be in collegiate athletics!”
A professor who stood out for Warren as particularly impactful is Christina Carter. Currently UTulsa’s vice provost for student success, Carter spent many years overseeing compliance in the university’s athletics department. “Having a professor who understood our lives as graduate assistants and students was awesome,” said Warren. “Even more importantly, learning about the different aspects of sports leadership from someone who had held leadership roles in the area was amazing. Dr. Carter’s classes and her approach helped us learn all that truly goes into collegiate athletics. She showed us that everyone’s path to their career and their purpose is different and valuable and that every opportunity you have in life will teach you something valuable that’ll help you reach the next level.”
No matter which direction students take their careers, they all participate in and benefit from hands-on leadership training, internships and other immersive, practical experiences. These are often undertaken with one of the city’s three professional sports teams, NCAA Division I Golden Hurricane teams or UTulsa’s Department of Athletics. Students also have a great deal of freedom to pursue specific academic areas that are germane to where they want to take their careers.
“I love working with each person to help them choose courses and experiential learning opportunities that speak to their personal interests,” said Gardner. “My goal is always to design and facilitate learning pathways that lead to the fulfillment of ambition.”
As a result of this combination of individualized planning and rigorous, relevant academic and real-world education, Sports Leadership graduates gain a robust understanding of the multiple and changing pressures and influences on the sports industry as well as the skills necessary to adapt to challenges they will inevitably face as athletics evolve.
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