Name: Dr. Matt Garrett
Current Job Title: Chair, Division of Physical Education and Sport Studies
School Name: Loras College

I am the Chair of the Division of Physical Education and Sport Studies and coordinate the sport management program at Loras College. I oversee operations for, teach classes in, and supervise internships and external partnerships for about 50 students.

What advice would you give to students looking to make sports their career?

Be prepared to work a lot of hours for low pay early in your career. You will have to make sacrifices on your time and your expendable income that some of your friends won’t have to, so you can’t try to keep up with them.

What are the main selection criteria you consider when selecting students to be admitted into your program?

We look at a student’s grade point average, complete an on-campus background search on them, and ask them to go through an interview process. We want students who take an active interest in their education and who will appropriately represent the program at all times.

How important is it for students to do an internship before they graduate? What advice would you give a student looking to select a sports internship?

Students in our program must complete a full-semester internship so we believe it is extremely important. Students looking to select a sports internship should begin the process a minimum of six months in advance.

What are the main challenges that sports specific academic programs face over the next 3-5 years?

There are several programs at colleges that are not credible and they hinder the reputation of the entire discipline.