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European soccer is back.

The Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and other major competitions are beginning another season filled with new players, new managers, major transfers, rising prospects and championship expectations.

For fans, that means weekends packed with matches.

For aspiring sports professionals, it is also a reminder of just how large the global soccer industry really is.

Behind every club is an international network of scouts, analysts, player development professionals, agents, executives, media teams and soccer operations staff working year-round to build competitive organizations.

If you have ever wondered how to turn your knowledge of soccer into a career, the start of a new European season is the perfect time to look behind the game.

Scouting Is a Global Business

A Premier League club may sign a player from Spain.

A La Liga club might identify a prospect in South America.

A Bundesliga organization may discover its next star in an academy thousands of miles away.

That is why modern soccer scouting goes far beyond simply attending matches.

Scouts need to evaluate:

• Technical ability

• Tactical awareness

• Athletic traits

• Decision-making

• Player potential

• How a player fits a club's system

• Transfer value

• Competition level

They also need to communicate their findings clearly to sporting directors, recruitment departments and other decision-makers.

For someone who loves evaluating players and understanding how clubs build their squads, scouting can become much more than a hobby.

Explore SMWW's Soccer Management & Scouting Course

Analytics Is Changing How Clubs Evaluate Talent

Modern soccer clubs are also using more data than ever.

Recruitment departments can combine traditional scouting with statistics, match video and performance information to better understand players around the world.

Analytics professionals may examine areas such as:

• Passing and chance creation

• Expected goals

• Defensive actions

• Possession

• Pressing

• Player movement

• Team tendencies

• Opposition performance

The goal is not to replace traditional scouting.

It is to give clubs another way to make more informed decisions.

For people who love both soccer and data, that creates another career pathway into the sport.

Explore SMWW's Soccer Analytics Course

The Transfer Market Creates Careers Too

Every major signing fans see announced involves far more people than the player and manager.

Behind the scenes may be:

• Scouts

• Sporting directors

• Analysts

• Agents

• Lawyers

• Recruitment staff

• Player personnel professionals

• Communications teams

Identifying the player is only the beginning.

Clubs must determine whether the player fits their system, understand the financial side of the move, negotiate with teams and representatives, and ultimately help the player transition into a new environment.

That makes the international transfer market one of the most interesting areas of the soccer business.

What About the Next Generation?

European clubs also invest heavily in developing young players.

Academies and player development departments are responsible for identifying potential, improving skills and determining when players are ready to move closer to the senior team.

That creates opportunities for people interested in:

• Youth scouting

• Academy operations

• Player development

• Talent identification

• Performance analysis

• Coaching support

The players fans watch in the Premier League or La Liga today often represent years of work by professionals throughout a club's development system.

Turn the Way You Watch Soccer Into a Career Skill

Millions of people will watch European soccer this season.

Far fewer will learn how the industry behind those matches actually works.

If you find yourself evaluating transfers, questioning why a club signed a particular player, analyzing tactics or identifying young prospects before everyone else does, those interests can translate into professional skills.

Sports Management Worldwide offers online soccer education designed for aspiring professionals interested in scouting, analytics, player development, representation and the business of the global game.

The season may be starting in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and beyond.

Your soccer career can start from anywhere.

Explore SMWW Soccer Courses

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Moving from the military community into the sports industry can feel like a major career shift, but many of the skills developed through military life and public service translate directly into sports.

Leadership, communication, adaptability, operations, strategy, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure are all highly valuable across the sports industry.

In an upcoming free SMWW Doc Talk, Krista Emmett, former U.S. Army spouse and sports industry professional, will share how she turned decades of experience in public policy and strategic communications into a new career path across baseball operations, technology, and sports diplomacy.

Register for SMWW Doc Talk

Turning Transferable Skills Into Sports Opportunities

One of the biggest challenges for veterans, military spouses, and other career changers is not necessarily gaining new skills.

It is learning how to explain the value of the skills they already have.

The sports industry needs professionals who can:

• Lead teams

• Communicate clearly

• Manage complex operations

• Solve problems quickly

• Build relationships

• Work across organizations and cultures

• Adapt in high-pressure environments

Those abilities can translate into careers in sports operations, management, communications, technology, scouting, player development, analytics, and more.

The key is understanding where those skills fit and how to position them for sports employers.

Krista Emmett Made the Career Pivot Herself

Krista brings firsthand experience to this conversation.

After a 20-plus-year career in public policy and strategic communications, shaped in part by her experience as an Army spouse, she began building a path into the sports industry.

Her transition included completing Sports Management Worldwide training in areas such as:

• Front-office management

• Scouting

• Player development

• Analytics

She has since taken on roles with organizations including the British Baseball Federation and Baseball For All, gaining experience across baseball operations, technology, and sports diplomacy.

That makes this Doc Talk especially valuable for anyone asking:

“I know I want to work in sports, but how do I make my previous experience relevant?”

What You’ll Learn in This Free SMWW Doc Talk

Krista will discuss practical lessons from her own transition, including how to:

• Identify transferable skills from military or professional experience

• Position your background for sports industry roles

• Build credibility when entering a new industry

• Develop meaningful sports relationships and networks

• Choose education and training that supports your goals

• Take practical steps toward your first opportunity in sports

This conversation is especially relevant for veterans, military spouses, public-sector professionals, and anyone considering a major career change into sports.

You Don't Have to Start Your Career Over

Changing industries does not mean starting from zero.

The experience you already have can become an advantage when it is translated effectively.

Sports organizations need people who understand leadership, communication, strategy, technology, operations, and relationship building.

The challenge is learning how your existing experience fits into that world and taking the right steps to close any gaps.

That is exactly what Krista Emmett will explore during this SMWW Doc Talk.

Join Krista Emmett for SMWW Doc Talk

If you are a veteran, military spouse, or career changer who wants to work in sports, this session is designed to give you a clearer path forward.

Learn from someone who has made the transition herself and discover how your existing skills can become the foundation for a career in the sports industry.

Register for the Free SMWW Doc Talk 

 

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Getting drafted or signed by a professional baseball organization is only the beginning.

The next challenge is turning talent into a Major League player.

Across professional baseball, organizations now employ entire player development departments focused on helping prospects improve physically, technically, mentally, and strategically. These staffs extend far beyond traditional coaches and increasingly include analysts, performance specialists, technology personnel, coordinators, and development directors.

That creates an important career opportunity for people who want to work in baseball without necessarily becoming a scout or front-office executive.

What Is Baseball Player Development?

Player development is the process of helping an athlete progress from where they are today toward their full potential.

For a professional organization, that can involve:

• Hitting and pitching development

• Defensive instruction

• Strength and conditioning

• Video analysis

• Performance technology

• Baseball analytics

• Mental performance

• Individual development plans

• Minor League operations

Modern baseball organizations now employ specialists across all of these areas, creating more career paths for people who want to work directly with players and help them improve.

Technology Is Changing How Baseball Players Develop

Modern player development is increasingly driven by both coaching expertise and data.

Organizations now use tools such as advanced video, ball-tracking systems, biomechanics, swing analysis, pitch design, bat-speed data, and performance tracking to better understand how athletes perform and where they can improve.

But technology alone does not develop a player.

The real value comes from professionals who know how to interpret that information, communicate it effectively, and turn it into an actionable development plan.

Data helps identify the opportunity. Great player development professionals help the athlete take advantage of it.

Player Development Is Also About People

One of the most important parts of player development is understanding that every athlete is different.

A young prospect entering professional baseball for the first time may need a completely different approach than an experienced Triple-A player trying to make the final jump to the Major Leagues.

Successful player development professionals need baseball knowledge, but they also need to know how to:

• Communicate with athletes

• Teach effectively

• Evaluate progress

• Build trust

• Use data without overwhelming the player

• Create individualized development plans

That combination of baseball knowledge, technology, analytics, and communication is becoming increasingly valuable throughout the sport.

Want to Work in Baseball Player Development?

For someone interested in becoming a:

• Player development coordinator

• Minor League coach

• Baseball operations professional

• Hitting or pitching development specialist

• Video or technology coordinator

• Performance analyst

• Farm system staff member

understanding how professional organizations develop talent can be a major advantage.

Sports Management Worldwide's Baseball Player Development Course is designed specifically for people interested in this side of the game.

The course helps aspiring baseball professionals better understand how organizations develop athletes, evaluate progress, use modern technology, and build systems designed to help players reach their potential.

Explore the SMWW Baseball Player Development Course

Scouting Finds the Player. Player Development Builds the Player.

Scouting gets plenty of attention because identifying the next great prospect is exciting.

But finding talent is only part of the process.

Someone still has to help that player improve.

As baseball continues investing in analytics, technology, biomechanics, coaching, performance science, and individualized instruction, player development is becoming one of the most exciting career paths in the sport.

If your goal is to help athletes get better and build a career inside a baseball organization, player development could be the path for you.

Learn more about SMWW's Baseball Player Development Course.

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Football careers are not created only on the field.

Behind every successful football organization is a team of professionals working in scouting, player evaluation, media, technology, and operations.

All Access Football is proving what is possible when passionate football professionals combine education, experience, and industry connections.

Led by football evaluator and sports entrepreneur Ric Serritella, All Access Football has built a front office team consisting entirely of Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW) graduates — demonstrating how SMWW students are applying their knowledge in real football environments.

Ric Serritella: Bringing Football Evaluation and Opportunity Together

Ric Serritella has built a reputation as a respected football evaluator, scout, and analyst with decades of experience covering college and professional football.

Through All Access Football, Ric has created a platform that gives football professionals the opportunity to showcase their skills while providing valuable insight into player evaluation, scouting, and the business side of football.

The organization represents the type of football opportunity many aspiring professionals are looking for:

A place where knowledge of the game can turn into real experience.

An Entire Front Office Built From SMWW Graduates

One of the most exciting parts of the All Access Football story is the team behind the organization.

The front office includes SMWW graduates working together across football operations:

Titans Camp

• Kelyn Varona
• Dom Ambrose

Ravens Camp

• Lauren Davidov

Bills Camp

• Schuyler French

Broncos Camp

• David Lewsecke
• Taylor Lewsecke

Buccaneers Camp

• Kelyn Varona

This group represents the many different career paths available in football beyond playing.

Football Needs More Than Players

The modern football industry requires professionals in many areas:

Scouting and Player Evaluation

Teams and organizations need people who can identify talent and provide accurate evaluations.

SMWW Course Connection:

Football GM & Scouting Course

Students learn the fundamentals of scouting, player evaluation, draft preparation, and football operations.

https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/football-gm-scouting

Football Analytics and Technology

Today's football decisions rely heavily on information.

Organizations need professionals who understand:

• Data analysis
• Video evaluation
• Player performance
• Technology systems

SMWW Course Connection:

Football Analytics and Football Video Performance Analysis With Catapult Course

SMWW helps students understand how analytics are transforming football decision-making.

https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/football-analytics

https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/digital-video-editing​

Football Media and Communications

Football organizations need storytellers who can connect teams, players, and fans.

Career opportunities include:

• Football media
• Content creation
• Team communications
• Digital strategy

SMWW Course Connection:

Sports Media & Content Strategy

SMWW helps students learn how strategic content and sports media are driving fan engagement and building sports brands.

https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/sports-media-content-strategy

The SMWW Difference: Turning Passion Into Preparation

Many people dream about working in football.

The challenge is knowing how to turn that passion into a career.

SMWW provides aspiring football professionals with:

• Industry-specific education
• Experienced instructors
• Networking opportunities
• Practical knowledge
• Career-focused learning

The success of All Access Football demonstrates that football careers are available in many forms.

Some professionals evaluate players.

Some create content.

Some manage operations.

Some build organizations.

Start Your Football Career Journey

The football industry continues to grow, creating opportunities for people who understand the game and the business behind it.

Ric Serritella and All Access Football showcase what can happen when prepared professionals put their knowledge into action.

For future scouts, analysts, agents, media professionals, and football executives, the path starts with developing the right skills.

SMWW helps people take their passion for football and turn it into a professional pathway.

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The global basketball industry is preparing for a major new chapter.

The NBA and FIBA are working toward launching a professional basketball league in Europe targeted for 2027, with a proposed structure featuring 12 permanent franchises and four additional teams qualifying annually.

While fans will focus on the teams, players, and competition, the biggest long-term impact may happen behind the scenes.

A new professional league means new organizations, new departments, and new opportunities for people who want to build careers in basketball.

For aspiring sports professionals, this could be the moment to start preparing.

A New Basketball League Means More Than New Teams

Launching professional franchises requires much more than players and coaches.

Every team needs professionals working in:

• Basketball operations
• Player scouting
• Analytics
• Marketing
• Sponsorships
• Partnerships
• Ticket sales
• Community engagement
• Team operations
• International business

The NBA’s global growth has shown that basketball is no longer just a game. It is a worldwide sports business ecosystem.

As European basketball continues to expand, organizations will need people who understand both the sport and the business behind it.

Investment Shows the Potential Scale

The level of interest surrounding a potential NBA-backed European league demonstrates the opportunity.

The NBA has indicated that potential franchise bids have ranged from approximately $500 million to $1 billion, with significant investor interest from major markets, including London.

These are proposed investments, not finalized franchise sales, but they show the financial potential behind expanding professional basketball in Europe.

Where there is investment in sports, there is demand for skilled professionals who can help build and operate successful organizations.

What Skills Will Future Basketball Organizations Need?

Basketball Scouting

New teams will need professionals who can identify talent, evaluate players, and provide insights that impact roster decisions.

SMWW Course Connection:
Basketball GM & Scouting Course

This program helps students develop knowledge in player evaluation, scouting techniques, team building, and basketball operations.

Learn more:
https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/basketball-gm-and-scouting

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Basketball Analytics

Modern basketball decisions are driven by data.

Teams need analysts who can evaluate:

• Player performance
• Team efficiency
• Advanced statistics
• Opponent tendencies
• Business insights

SMWW Course Connection:
Basketball Analytics Course

Students learn how analytics are used throughout basketball organizations to support decision-making.

Learn more:
https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/basketball-analytics

Front Office and Sports Leadership

Building new franchises requires leaders who understand how sports organizations operate.

Future executives will need skills in:

• Team management
• Revenue generation
• Partnerships
• Organizational strategy
• Leadership

SMWW Course Connection:
Sports Leadership Degrees

SMWW’s sports leadership pathway helps professionals develop the business and leadership skills needed to advance in the sports industry.

Learn more:
https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/content/sports-leadership-degrees

How SMWW Can Help Prepare the Next Generation of Basketball Professionals

Major sports opportunities are rarely created overnight. The people who benefit are the ones who prepare before the jobs become available.

SMWW helps aspiring sports professionals build the skills, knowledge, and industry connections needed for careers across basketball and the broader sports business world.

As basketball continues expanding globally, opportunities will grow for people who understand:

• How teams evaluate talent
• How organizations build winning cultures
• How sports businesses create revenue
• How analytics influence decisions
• How international leagues operate

The future of basketball will need more than great athletes.

It will need the next generation of scouts, analysts, executives, marketers, and sports leaders.

Prepare for the Future of Basketball

The potential NBA Europe League represents one of the most exciting developments in global basketball.

For anyone who wants to work in basketball, now is the time to build experience and develop the skills teams will need.

Explore SMWW basketball and sports leadership programs and start preparing for the next generation of sports careers.

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Sports Management Worldwide recently had a familiar name in its Cricket Business Management Course—Bangladesh national team head coach Phil Simmons.

Now Simmons is back on the international stage in Australia, leading Bangladesh during its Test tour and making headlines in the Australian media.

The former West Indies international has built one of cricket’s most extensive coaching résumés. He has coached Zimbabwe, Ireland, Afghanistan and the West Indies, including leading the West Indies to the 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title.

During Bangladesh’s current visit to Darwin, Simmons has again found himself in the spotlight. The attached Australian newspaper coverage features him commenting publicly on decisions affecting international cricket, another reminder that the role of a modern head coach extends well beyond what happens on the field.

An International Coach Still Learning

What makes Simmons’ connection to SMWW especially interesting is that he enrolled in the most recent Cricket Business Management class while already working at the highest levels of the game.

He was also an active contributor to the course.

Modern cricket leaders increasingly need to understand more than coaching technique. International cricket involves team management, governing bodies, scheduling, commercial considerations, media, player relationships and the broader business structure surrounding the sport.

That makes continuing education relevant even for someone with decades of international experience.

Cricket Careers Go Far Beyond the Boundary

SMWW’s Cricket Business Management Course brings together students and cricket professionals from around the world to study the management and business side of the sport.

Phil Simmons is a strong example of an important career lesson: reaching a high level in sports does not mean you stop learning.

Today, he is coaching Bangladesh on the international stage.

Recently, he was also sitting in an SMWW classroom contributing to conversations about the business and management of the game.

That is a strong reminder that professional development never really stops in sports.

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NFL football returned Thursday night, and the first preseason game immediately gave scouts something to evaluate.

The Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33–30 in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, with undrafted quarterback Haynes King scoring the winning touchdown in the final seconds. Arizona rookie Carson Beck also delivered a strong debut, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.

For fans, it was an entertaining start to the preseason.

For scouts and personnel executives, it was something else entirely: another opportunity to determine who deserves a roster spot.

Why the Hall of Fame Game Matters to Scouts

Preseason results do not count in the standings.

Individual performances still matter.

Players near the bottom of an NFL roster are competing for limited jobs, and every preseason snap gives scouts additional information.

They are evaluating:

• Technique
• Decision-making
• Athletic ability
• Football intelligence
• Consistency
• Position versatility
• Special-teams value
• Ability to perform under pressure

King is a perfect example.

As an undrafted quarterback competing for an opportunity, a late game-winning drive gives evaluators meaningful film to study. His 28-yard scramble on third-and-14 helped extend Carolina’s final possession before he scored the winning touchdown as time expired.

One play does not make a roster.

It can earn a player another look.

Carson Beck Gave Arizona Plenty to Evaluate

Beck entered the game facing a different kind of evaluation.

The third-round rookie produced an efficient preseason debut, finishing 15-of-19 for 188 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

A scout reviewing that performance will look beyond the box score.

Was he making the correct reads?

How quickly was he processing pressure?

Was his ball placement consistent?

Did he remain composed when the pocket changed?

Can those traits translate against starting NFL defenders?

That is the difference between watching football and scouting football.

Preseason Is About Building the Entire Roster

The Cardinals and Panthers were chosen to open the preseason as part of Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend, which also celebrates 2026 inductees Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly.

The stars of the regular season may receive most of the attention, but August is often about everyone else.

NFL personnel departments are looking for backup quarterbacks, developmental linemen, special-teams contributors, reserve defensive backs and players who provide enough versatility to justify a roster position.

The question is not simply:

Who played well?

It is:

What role can this player fill on our football team?

Learn to Evaluate Football Like a Scout

Anyone can watch the Hall of Fame Game and identify the biggest plays.

A professional scout must explain why a performance matters and how a player projects to a specific role.

That requires film study, position-specific knowledge, player grading and clear scouting reports.

SMWW’s Football GM and Scouting Course teaches aspiring football professionals how to evaluate players, break down film, write scouting reports and understand roster construction.

Last night provided a perfect practice opportunity.

Pick one player from the Panthers-Cardinals game.

Watch every available snap.

Identify strengths, concerns and projected role.

Then answer the question NFL scouts are asking throughout August:

Would you keep this player on your roster—and why?

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The inaugural season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League has officially begun.

The WPBL opened its first season on August 1, 2026, at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. The Los Angeles Queens defeated the New York Heights 10–8 in the league’s historic opening game before a crowd of more than 4,000 fans.

For Sports Management Worldwide, the moment carries a special connection.

WPBL Commissioner and co-founder Justine Siegal attended SMWW’s Football Career Conference in Indianapolis in 2009. She was already working to create more opportunities for women and girls in baseball while building relationships across the broader sports industry.

Seventeen years later, she is leading a new professional league into its inaugural season.

From Conference Attendee to Baseball Commissioner

Justine Siegal has spent more than two decades challenging assumptions about where women belong in baseball.

In 2009, she became the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team when she served as a first-base coach for the Brockton Rox. She later became the first woman to throw batting practice to an MLB team and, in 2015, the first woman to coach for an MLB organization when she worked with the Oakland Athletics.

Siegal also founded Baseball for All, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for girls to play, coach and lead in baseball.

Her work has now reached another historic stage.

As the WPBL’s first commissioner, Siegal helps lead the league’s baseball operations, player relations, staff development and strategic direction. She also serves as one of the most visible advocates for the growth of women’s professional baseball.

The league’s arrival gives elite women baseball players something generations before them rarely had: a professional destination.

A New Professional League Takes the Field

The WPBL begins with four teams:

• Boston Hunters
• Los Angeles Queens
• New York Heights
• San Francisco Firebells

The inaugural season includes leading players from the United States and around the world, including Mo’ne Davis, Kelsie Whitmore and Japanese pitching star Ayami Sato.

The WPBL is the first U.S. professional women’s baseball league since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ended in 1954.

Its importance extends beyond the players on the field.

A new professional league also creates opportunities in coaching, scouting, player development, baseball operations, analytics, marketing, communications, broadcasting, event operations and league administration.

The WPBL is creating another place for women to build careers throughout the game.

Justine Siegal and Jen Welter Broke Barriers in Different Sports

Justine Siegal is not the only pioneering woman connected to the SMWW community.

Jen Welter, an SMWW Football GM & Scouting alumna, became the NFL’s first female coach when she joined the Arizona Cardinals as a coaching intern in 2015.

Siegal and Welter pursued careers in different sports, but their stories share important qualities.

Both entered fields in which few women had been given visible leadership opportunities.

Both developed expertise before the industry fully recognized the need to create space for them.

Both continued moving forward despite the absence of a traditional career path.

Both ultimately changed what future generations could see as possible.

Representation Creates New Career Pathways

The value of a barrier-breaking career is not limited to one achievement.

When Justine Siegal coached for the Oakland Athletics, young women could see a woman working inside an MLB organization.

When Jen Welter coached for the Arizona Cardinals, women interested in professional football could see that coaching at the NFL level was possible.

Now, when players take the field in the WPBL, girls can see a professional baseball league built specifically for them.

They can also see women working as commissioners, coaches, executives, scouts, broadcasters, marketers and operations professionals.

Visible examples matter because people are more likely to pursue a career when they can see that someone else has already begun opening the door.

New Leagues Need People Willing to Build

Working for a new sports league is different from joining an established organization.

Employees may need to handle several responsibilities, develop systems from the ground up and solve problems without decades of institutional history to guide them.

That environment can be demanding.

It can also provide valuable career experience.

Someone joining a new league may have opportunities to:

• Work closely with senior leadership
• Contribute across several departments
• Help establish team and league traditions
• Build new fan communities
• Develop partnerships
• Create original content
• Take on meaningful responsibility early
• Produce visible examples of their work

The launch of the WPBL is therefore important not only for athletes, but for people who want to help build the future of baseball.

Conferences Can Start Relationships That Last

Justine Siegal’s appearance at SMWW’s first Football Career Conference is a reminder that a professional connection may become more meaningful over time.

The person sitting beside you at a conference may be an aspiring coach, scout, agent or executive today.

Years later, that person may be leading a team, an organization or an entire league.

The goal of attending a sports career conference should not be to ask every speaker for a job.

It should be to learn, ask informed questions, understand the industry and begin building genuine professional relationships.

Those conversations can shape how someone approaches the next step.

In some cases, they become part of a much larger career story.

A Historic Moment for Women in Baseball

The launch of the Women’s Pro Baseball League is not the conclusion of Justine Siegal’s work.

It is the beginning of another chapter.

The league now has the opportunity to establish a sustainable professional platform, develop a loyal fan base and inspire more girls to remain in baseball.

Its long-term success will depend on strong players, thoughtful leadership and talented professionals working throughout the organization.

SMWW congratulates Justine Siegal, the WPBL athletes and everyone who helped bring the league to the field.

From attending SMWW’s first Football Career Conference in Indianapolis to becoming the commissioner of a professional baseball league, Siegal’s career shows what can happen when preparation, relationships and persistence meet an ambitious vision.

Kudos to Justine Siegal and Jen Welter for breaking barriers in baseball and football.

More importantly, kudos to both for making the path wider for everyone coming next.

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A college football program used to be defined primarily by its head coach, assistant coaches, athletic trainers and a small group of support personnel.

That model has changed.

The transfer portal, NIL, revenue sharing, year-round recruiting, analytics and expanded player support have transformed major college football programs into sophisticated organizations that increasingly resemble professional front offices.

Today, a major football program may employ dozens of people working exclusively with football. At the largest Power 4 programs, the complete organization can include 70, 90 or even more than 100 coaches, scouts, recruiters, analysts, video professionals, operations employees, medical personnel and support staff.

The exact number depends on whether graduate assistants, interns, medical professionals and shared athletic-department employees are included. The larger point is clear: college football now offers far more career paths than coaching alone.

What Does a Modern College Football Staff Look Like?

The coaching staff remains central to the program, but it is only one part of the organization.

A large college football operation may include personnel working in:

• Coaching
• Recruiting
• Player personnel
• Roster management
• NIL
• Revenue sharing
• Football operations
• Video
• Analytics
• Strength and conditioning
• Sports medicine
• Equipment
• Nutrition
• Academic support
• Creative media
• Player development
• Administration

A realistic working estimate for a major college football staff could look like this:

Department	Typical Staff Range
Head coach and assistant coaches	11–16
Recruiting and player personnel	8–20
General manager, NIL and roster management	2–8
Football operations	4–10
Video	3–8
Analytics	2–8
Strength and conditioning	5–10
Athletic training and sports medicine	4–8
Equipment	4–10
Nutrition	2–5
Football-specific academic support	2–6
Creative media, social media and graphics	3–10
Administrative support	2–5
Graduate assistants, analysts and quality control	10–35

These ranges are estimates rather than NCAA-mandated staffing levels. Some employees support multiple sports, while others may be interns, graduate assistants or outside specialists.

A Group of Five program may operate with roughly 45–70 football staff members. A large Power 4 program may have 70–100, while some heavily resourced national contenders can exceed that range.

Recruiting Has Become a Full-Time Department

Recruiting was once handled primarily by the coaching staff.

Coaches still play an essential role, but major programs now employ recruiting directors, personnel evaluators, high school relations staff, transfer portal specialists, recruiting operations coordinators and creative professionals dedicated to attracting athletes.

The NCAA’s FBS Oversight Committee recently recommended allowing schools to designate as many as 16 program staff members plus the head coach for off-campus recruiting. The proposal would create a maximum of 17 off-campus recruiters, reflecting how large and specialized recruiting organizations have become.

Recruiting departments must now evaluate:

• High school prospects
• Junior college players
• Transfer portal entrants
• Scholarship availability
• Roster limits
• Positional needs
• Academic eligibility
• NIL expectations
• Revenue-sharing implications
• Long-term player development

The work continues throughout the year.

The Rise of the College Football General Manager

One of the most significant changes in college football is the growth of the general manager role.

Traditionally, the head coach held primary responsibility for building the roster. Many programs now employ general managers, assistant general managers and directors of player personnel to help manage an increasingly complicated talent-acquisition process.

A college football general manager may contribute to:

• Roster construction
• Recruiting strategy
• Transfer portal evaluation
• Scholarship allocation
• Revenue-sharing decisions
• NIL coordination
• Player agreements
• Staff organization
• Player retention
• Long-term personnel planning

These responsibilities require an understanding of scouting, recruiting, negotiation, budgeting and organizational strategy.

The title may sound similar to an NFL position, but the college role also requires knowledge of NCAA rules, academics, eligibility, donor relationships and the changing economics of college athletics.

Aspiring general managers, scouts and player-personnel professionals can develop relevant skills through SMWW’s Football GM and Scouting Course.

The course covers talent evaluation, film breakdown, scouting reports, roster construction, personnel-department structure and the decision-making process used by football organizations.

Player Personnel and Scouting Careers

College football programs must evaluate thousands of potential players.

That creates opportunities for personnel professionals who can study film, organize information and communicate whether a player fits the program.

Common roles include:

• Director of player personnel
• Assistant director of player personnel
• Recruiting evaluator
• College personnel scout
• High school scout
• Transfer portal scout
• Recruiting analyst
• Personnel assistant
• General manager
• Assistant general manager

Evaluators study more than star ratings.

They consider:

• Athletic ability
• Position-specific technique
• Scheme fit
• Football intelligence
• Academic background
• Physical development
• Injury history
• Character
• Competition level
• Transferability of skills
• Potential role within the roster

A useful evaluation must explain not only whether a player is talented, but whether that player can help a particular program.

SMWW’s Football GM and Scouting Course teaches player evaluation, film analysis, scouting-report writing, roster construction and personnel-department structure.

Students complete practical scouting assignments and build work they can use to demonstrate their evaluation ability.

Transfer Portal and Roster Management Careers

The transfer portal has created an additional recruiting market.

Programs must evaluate athletes who already have college experience, determine how quickly they could contribute and compare them with current players and incoming high school prospects.

Roster-management employees may monitor:

• Available roster positions
• Player eligibility
• Scholarship commitments
• Transfer portal entries
• Positional depth
• Player retention
• Academic progress
• Revenue-sharing allocations
• NIL considerations
• Immediate and future roster needs

A transfer decision can affect several areas of the program.

Adding one experienced player may address an immediate weakness, but it can also change scholarship availability, playing time, recruiting plans and the development of younger athletes.

That is why roster management has become a specialized responsibility rather than a simple administrative task.

The roster construction and personnel-management instruction in SMWW’s Football GM and Scouting Course can help students understand how teams compare talent, balance positional needs and make long-term personnel decisions.

Football Analytics Is Expanding

Analytics departments help programs organize information and make better decisions.

College football analysts may study:

• Player performance
• Recruiting projections
• Transfer portal candidates
• Opponent tendencies
• Fourth-down decisions
• Personnel groupings
• Practice workload
• Injury risk
• Roster value
• Game strategy

The goal is not to replace coaches or scouts.

Analytics adds context to what football professionals see on film. Data can identify trends, challenge assumptions and help programs compare players or strategies more consistently.

Someone interested in football analytics may need knowledge of statistics, data visualization, programming and database management. Just as importantly, the analyst must understand football well enough to explain why the information matters.

Readers interested in building broader technical abilities can explore SMWW’s Football Analytics or Sports Analytics and AI Course.

The course introduces students to tools such as SQL, Python, R, data visualization and artificial intelligence that can support analytical work across football and other sports.

Video Departments Support the Entire Program

Video professionals are essential to modern football operations.

They film practices and games, organize footage, prepare cutups and ensure that coaches, scouts and players can quickly review the information they need.

A recruiting evaluator may request every available snap from a transfer portal offensive lineman. A position coach may need all third-down plays from an upcoming opponent. A player may want to review every practice rep from the previous day.

Video staff make that possible.

Their work can support:

• Coaching
• Scouting
• Recruiting
• Player development
• Opponent preparation
• Analytics
• Officiating review
• Self-scouting

SMWW’s Football Video Performance Analysis With Catapult Course teaches students the video workflows and technology used to prepare film for coaches, scouts and personnel departments.

The course includes hands-on training with Catapult technology and focuses on professional football video organization, game preparation, scouting and player evaluation.

Video can also be one of the strongest entry points into a college football program because the department works closely with nearly every part of the organization.

NIL and Revenue Sharing Are Creating New Responsibilities

College football programs must now navigate athlete compensation alongside recruiting, eligibility and roster construction.

That has created responsibilities involving:

• NIL education
• Athlete marketing
• Partnership coordination
• Revenue-sharing administration
• Budget forecasting
• Agreement review
• Compliance
• Player communication
• Collective and donor relations
• Roster-value analysis

Not every program handles these responsibilities in the same department.

Some responsibilities may sit within athletics administration, compliance, external affairs or a separate NIL organization. Others may be integrated directly into the football personnel operation.

Professionals entering these areas need to understand both sports business and athlete relationships.

Those interested in the representation and advisory side of football can explore SMWW’s Football Agent Certification Prep Course.

Although the course is designed primarily for NFLPA exam preparation, it also provides instruction in football contracts, salary calculations, player benefits, free agency and the rules governing professional athlete representation.

Creative Media Is Part of Recruiting

A college football program’s creative department is no longer focused only on promoting games.

Graphics, videos, photography and social content have become important parts of recruiting and athlete branding.

Creative teams may produce:

• Recruiting graphics
• Commitment announcements
• Facility videos
• Visit content
• Player features
• Social campaigns
• Behind-the-scenes footage
• Game-day content
• NIL-related materials
• Program branding

A prospect’s first meaningful interaction with a program may happen through social media.

That makes creative media part of the recruiting operation, not merely a promotional function.

Creative professionals who understand athlete branding, digital media and content strategy can contribute directly to recruiting and player promotion.

Player Development Extends Beyond the Field

Major programs are investing more heavily in the complete development of their athletes.

Player-development professionals may support:

• Leadership
• Career preparation
• Financial education
• Community engagement
• Life skills
• Time management
• Academic transition
• Personal branding
• Professional football preparation
• Life after football

A successful program must recruit athletes, develop them, retain them and prepare them for what comes next.

That requires staff members who can build trust and work across coaching, academics, administration and athlete services.

Player-development professionals must understand team culture, leadership, communication and the challenges athletes face throughout their careers.

College Football Offers Opportunities at Every Level

The largest staffs are generally found at Power 4 institutions, but career opportunities exist throughout college football.

Hundreds of programs compete across the FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III levels. Additional opportunities exist within NAIA and junior college football.

Staff structures vary significantly.

FBS

FBS programs generally have the largest recruiting, personnel, video, analytics and support departments.

FCS

Many FCS programs employ dedicated operations, recruiting, video and personnel staff, although individual employees may handle several responsibilities.

Division II

Division II programs typically operate with smaller departments. That can give employees broader experience because one person may contribute to recruiting, operations, video and player development.

Division III

Division III programs generally have leaner staffs, but they still need professionals who can recruit, coach, manage operations, communicate with athletes and organize game-day responsibilities.

NAIA and Junior College Football

NAIA and junior college programs provide additional opportunities, particularly for people willing to take on multiple roles.

A smaller program may not employ a separate analyst, transfer portal scout and recruiting operations director. One motivated employee may contribute to all three areas.

That breadth can become valuable experience.

More Support Staff Means More Career Paths

Twenty years ago, many people pursuing football careers focused almost entirely on coaching or traditional scouting.

Those careers remain important.

They are no longer the only options.

Modern college football programs hire specialists in:

• Player personnel
• Recruiting operations
• Recruiting evaluation
• General management
• High school scouting
• College scouting
• Transfer portal scouting
• Football analytics
• Video
• Creative media
• Football operations
• NIL operations
• Revenue-sharing management
• Roster management
• Sports science
• Player development
• Academic services
• Nutrition
• Equipment
• Communications

At many major programs, the number of people working in support and personnel roles now exceeds the number of full-time coaches.

That creates opportunities for candidates who love football but do not want to coach.

Which SMWW Football Course Fits Your Career Goal?

Different areas of a football program require different skills.

Scouting, recruiting and player personnel

The Football GM and Scouting Course is the strongest fit for readers interested in:

• Player evaluation
• College scouting
• High school scouting
• Transfer portal scouting
• Recruiting evaluation
• Personnel departments
• Roster construction
• General manager roles

Video and football technology

The Football Video Performance Analysis With Catapult Course is designed for readers interested in:

• Football video departments
• Practice and game film
• Coaching cutups
• Scouting video
• Recruiting film
• Catapult technology
• Football operations
• Video coordinator roles

Data, analytics and artificial intelligence

The Football Analytics and Sports Analytics and AI Course can help readers interested in:

• Football analytics
• Recruiting data
• Player-performance analysis
• Statistical modeling
• Data visualization
• SQL
• Python and R
• PFF
• DVOA
• AI-supported sports analysis

Football contracts and athlete representation

The Football Agent Certification Prep Course is most relevant for readers interested in:

• Football contracts
• Athlete representation
• NFLPA certification
• Salary calculations
• Free agency
• Player benefits
• Contract-adviser regulations

What Skills Do College Football Programs Need?

The necessary skills depend on the position, but strong candidates commonly demonstrate several qualities.

Football Knowledge

You must understand the game well enough to communicate with coaches, scouts, players and administrators.

Attention to Detail

Roster records, recruiting information, video files and player evaluations must be accurate.

Communication

Football employees communicate with athletes, parents, coaches, high school programs, agents and administrators.

Technology

Video systems, recruiting databases, data platforms and communication tools are part of daily football operations.

Organization

Recruiting visits, travel, practices, games and roster decisions involve constant deadlines.

Adaptability

College football changes quickly. Employees must adjust to new rules, technologies and organizational structures.

Professional Relationships

The industry is built on trust. Your reputation for reliability and professionalism can affect future opportunities.

How to Prepare for a College Football Career

You do not need to wait for a Power 4 program to offer you a job before developing relevant experience.

Start by selecting one area:

• Scouting
• Recruiting
• Video
• Analytics
• Operations
• Player development
• Creative media
• NIL
• Roster management

Then begin producing work.

An aspiring scout can write player reports.

An analyst can create a recruiting or transfer portal project.

A video candidate can learn professional software and workflows.

A creative professional can develop a portfolio of sports graphics and content.

Candidates should also consider opportunities at:

• FCS programs
• Division II and Division III schools
• NAIA programs
• Junior colleges
• High schools
• Recruiting services
• All-star events
• Camps and combines
• Independent scouting organizations

Your first position does not have to be at a national championship contender.

It needs to give you credible football experience.

College Football Is Building a New Employment Market

There is no official NCAA count of every football-specific employee across the country.

Using broad staffing assumptions, however, FBS, FCS and Division II programs alone represent tens of thousands of coaching, personnel, operations and support positions.

The market becomes even larger when Division III, NAIA, junior college football, recruiting services, technology companies and independent scouting organizations are included.

The growth of college football staffs creates an important opportunity for aspiring sports professionals.

Programs need people who can evaluate players, manage information, analyze data, produce video, support athletes and organize increasingly complex football operations.

You do not have to become a coach to build a career in college football.

You need to understand where your skills fit within the modern organization.

Prepare for the New College Football Front Office

Sports Management Worldwide offers online programs that can help aspiring football professionals develop relevant skills in scouting, video, analytics and athlete representation.

Explore the course that best matches the work you want to pursue:

• Football GM and Scouting Course
• Football Video Performance Analysis With Catapult Course
• Football Analytics
• Sports Analytics and AI Course
• Football Agent Certification Prep Course

Students learn from experienced sports professionals, complete practical assignments and build relationships with people working throughout the industry.

College football staffs are expanding.

The next step is developing a skill that makes you valuable within one of them.

SHARE

Take your football career connections beyond the conference room.

Join Sports Management Worldwide in Nashville for an exclusive evening of college football networking, recruiting insight and career-focused conversation during the Personnel and Recruiting Symposium.

SMWW will hold a special Meet & Greet that brings together college football personnel professionals, recruiters, scouts, coaches, athletic department staff, sports agents, SMWW faculty, alumni, students and aspiring football executives.

Whether you already work in football or are trying to break into the industry, this is your opportunity to meet people who understand recruiting, scouting, NIL, roster management, player personnel and football operations.

Featured Football Industry Guests

• Eric Galko — Executive Director, East-West Shrine Bowl
• Geroy Simon — Executive Director of Revenue Share Management and General Manager, University of Maryland Athletics
• Lance Zeno — Advanced Scout, Offense, Vanderbilt Football

Meet the SMWW Team

• Dr. Lynn Lashbrook — SMWW President and Founder
• Liz Lashbrook — SMWW Executive Director
• Ric Serritella — SMWW Mentor, NFL Draft Bible and All Access Football
• Russ Lande — SMWW Mentor and NFL Scout

Build Your Football Network

The SMWW Meet & Greet gives attendees the opportunity to speak directly with professionals working throughout college and professional football.

Conversations may cover:

• College football recruiting
• NFL and college scouting
• Player evaluation
• NIL
• Roster management
• Player personnel
• Football operations
• Revenue-share management
• Athlete representation
• The NFL Draft process
• Breaking into the football industry

This is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your career goals and build relationships with people who understand how football organizations operate.

Who Should Attend?

The Meet & Greet is ideal for:

• College football personnel professionals
• Recruiters and scouts
• Coaches and athletic department staff
• Aspiring football executives
• Future athlete agents
• Current SMWW students and alumni
• College students and recent graduates
• Former players
• Anyone interested in building a career in football

Join SMWW in Nashville

Do not miss the opportunity to attend the Personnel and Recruiting Symposium and join SMWW for a special evening of football networking and career-focused conversation.

Come ready to meet industry professionals, expand your network and learn more about the careers shaping college and professional football.

Register for the SMWW Nashville Meet & Greet