University of Missouri - St. Louis Athletics

UMSL's new Bachelor of Science in Sport Management degree may have just completed its first year, but its success is already being recognized and felt by the students in its major, many of which are student-athletes.
 
Under the direction of Dr. Karen Boleksa, Assistant Teaching Professor and the University's first-ever Director of Sport Management, the program has been selected as the first national case study for WorkInSports Sports Career Game Plan.
 
Dr. Boleska brought a game-changing perspective for how to prepare students for their future careers. While teaching in higher education, she noticed a gap in the classroom and internships within the sports industry. To help close that gap, Dr. Boleska built UMSL's Sport Management Program around WorkInSports' Sports Career Game Plan, a comprehensive online course designed to equip students with the strategies and tactics needed to stand out for sports industry jobs.
 
As a result, 74 percent of students have earned sports internships, including seven Triton student-athletes doing internships this semester.
 
"This case study highlights the work, hours and dedication that our UMSL students have," said Boleska. "They have received internships and part-time jobs within minor league and major league baseball, collegiate leagues, community athletics, college athletics, and so much more."
 
The UMSL Athletics Department housed three student-athlete interns during the 2020-21 academic year, including Justin Evers (baseball), Jacob Stoker (baseball) and Kayla Hare (women's basketball).
 
Stoker is one of those seven student-athletes completing a sport management internship this summer by working with the Springfield Cardinals.
 
Other student-athletes in sport management internships this summer include:
 
Brady Krile (baseball) – PowerPlex
Leighton Keller (baseball) - PowerPlex
Reece Kulick (baseball) - PowerPlex
Leo Sowa (men's soccer) - O'Fallon Hoots (United States Prospect Baseball League)
Myles Cephas (men's basketball) – Alton River Dragons (United States Prospect Baseball League)
Jalyn Richardson (women's soccer) – Soccer Master
 
Click here for more information on UMSL's Bachelor of Science in Sport Management program.

Follow UMSL Sport Management on Instagram to see what students are doing during their internships.