Sports Leadership & Learning | Abilene Christian University

About ACU's Sports Leadership & Learning

The Vision for the Sports Leadership & Learning Program

Focused on fortifying sports culture, ACU is proudly working toward equipping athletes and sports leaders with educational resources to reach new heights mentally, spiritually, and physically grounded in these tenets:

INNOVATE education consistent with the rhythm of sports
EMPOWER athletes and sports leaders to achieve their best performance
GROW the world of sports through a culture of human flourishing
DEVELOP critical skills and competencies that support holistic leadership

Expanding Our Educational Reach

The ACU Sports Leadership & Learning program is deeply committed to providing comprehensive online education for professional teams searching to enhance their employees’ leadership and academic development. Our highly-experienced teams of instructional curriculum designers, subject matter experts, and faculty are squarely focused on creating content to generate new skills for our learners to use in their careers beyond the field of play.

Transforming the Culture of Sport

Given the degree of complexity within sports, our Sports Leadership & Learning program seeks to change the game behind the unspoken culture of sports. The global expansion of sport has resulted in new career opportunities and newfound challenges for athletes and sport leaders seeking balance, mental wellness, and holistic leadership skills.

In response, the ACU Sports Leadership & Learning program prioritizes:

Innovative learning to equip athletes and sport leaders to promote a flourishing culture amid massive industry growth
Sport leader and athlete development designed to prioritize organizational values and promote personal and professional growth
Equipping sport leaders and athletes with skills to enhance emotional well-being and effectively lead amid organizational crisis

Our Programs

Master of Science in Sports Leadership

Looking for a program to help you enter and lead in the sports industry? With ACU’s online Master of Science in Sports Leadership program, you’ll learn specific techniques to communicate effectively with your teammates, players and partners, as well as manage teams with psychology-based principles. Through a set of core curriculum courses, and three distinct concentrations in coaching, analytics and athletic administration, you will be able to identify and develop skills to evaluate ethical dilemmas and potential conflicts facing sports managers, as well as demonstrate competency in designing research studies related to athletics.

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Player Pathway

The Player Pathway Program is a versatile educational initiative tailored for professional athletes. Designed to accommodate sports professionals’ unique schedules and aspirations, this program provides a customizable curriculum spanning leadership, performance, communication, and sports history. What sets the Player Pathway Program apart is its adaptability—it can be tailored to suit the needs of any professional sports team, ensuring that athletes across various disciplines can access high-quality education that fits seamlessly into their busy schedules. This program provides a pathway to academic success and personal growth for any professional athlete.

Leadership Academy for Pro Sports Personnel

ACU’s Sports Leadership & Learning division offers a customizable Leadership Academy tailored for professional sports teams to enhance organizational effectiveness and leadership skills. Our curriculum equips front office personnel—executives, managers, and administrators—with the essential competencies needed to succeed in today’s sports industry. Covering topics from strategic decision-making and financial management to talent acquisition and organizational culture, our program ensures front-office professionals can confidently navigate the complexities of sports management. Through innovative learning and personalized coaching, we help drive the sustained growth and success of your organization.

Featured Partnership

An Online Learning Community Created Just For the Texas Rangers

RangersU powered by ACU is a unique partnership between the Texas Rangers and Abilene Christian University to shape educational content for Texas Rangers players and staff. The educational products have been jointly developed and all courses are delivered using ACU’s expertise in online learning making courses flexible and accessible for players and staff regardless of their location. Taught by ACU faculty members, Rangers staff and executive guest speakers, RangersU seeks to provide players and front-office staff members with the unique opportunity to advance their education and future careers.

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RangersU Players Pathway Courses

RangersU Player Pathway courses are custom-designed courses for Rangers players and baseball staff. Students receive three hours of college credit for each course (six hours for each block). They are designed to be offered during the off-season and are delivered in both English and Spanish language sections.

Press Coverage:
MLB.com: Class is now in session at Rangers University
The Athletic: ‘Rangers U’ partnership with ACU offers players, coaches chance to earn college credits

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Hear from RangersU Students

Texas Rangers Staff Continuing Education

This fall, a group of Texas Rangers management staff participated in the first of four courses in a custom-designed management training program created in collaboration with Texas Rangers management.

Currently, more than 20 baseball coaches and operational staff members are enrolled in ACU’s Introduction to Conversational Spanish course.

RangersU Public Courses

RangersU powered by ACU public courses provides opportunities for Rangers fans and other participants to foster their professional development and personal enrichment – all from the comfort of their homes. Taught by a diverse array of Texas Rangers management, Major League Baseball experts, and ACU faculty, each course offers engaging modules and discussions lasting seven weeks. Participants will interact with the same curriculum as current Rangers players who are aiming to improve their academic potential and career.

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Offer your team the academic experience of a lifetime

Your team is worth investing in. And ACU can deliver a top-ranked education built on a market-driven curriculum and a holistic outlook on Christian service and leadership. Whether you’re looking to offer specific courses geared toward your team’s field of interest or want to provide others the opportunity to earn their college degree, ACU is committed to supplying a high-impact, low-cost education in an inclusive, virtual environment.

Dr. Daryl Jones Interested in partnering with ACU for your team’s educational opportunities? Contact Dr. Daryl L. Jones, vice president, sports leadership and learning, at daryl.jones@acu.edu to learn more.

About ACU

Degrees to fit your career goals. Online to fit your life.

Through ACU’s more than 50 online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, you’ll receive a powerful learning experience that combines Christian values, real-world skills and career-boosting connections. Our accredited degree programs are designed with busy working adults in mind. That means you can further your education at a nationally recognized university without the need to relocate – all while balancing the demands of work, life, and community.

View Our Online Degree Programs

One of America’s Best Colleges

Newsweek Top Online Colleges 2024 Recognized as one of America’s Top Online Colleges for the third consecutive year by Newsweek and Statista Inc., ACU proudly stands among the nation’s premier online institutions. Seamlessly combining a top-tier education with the flexibility of an online format, ACU Online offers you a transformative learning experience.

Rankings and Recognition

Sports Leadership & Learning News

ACU Announces New Master of Science in Sports Leadership

ACU has launched a new online master’s degree in Sports Leadership focused on equipping prospective or current sports professionals in enhancing their experience with foundational and academically-based strategies to become effective coaches, sports administrators, and sports brand leaders.

ACU’s New Sports Leadership Master’s Program Attracts MLB Veteran

From Vice President of Baseball Development at MLB to graduate student of ACU Online’s Master of Science in Sports Leadership, Del Matthews is going ‘back to school’ in pursuit of his lifelong vision of constant learning and engaging with what is new in the world of sports. Read more about his involvement in the program.

ACU partners with Texas Rangers to offer RangersU courses to players

RangersU launched two Player Pathways for Rangers players interested in gaining continued education, academic credit, or new skills through ACU’s fully online, bilingual seven-week courses. Harnessing their shared mission, ACU and the Texas Rangers are eager to see the impact these pathways will have on players both on and off the field.

Faculty Spotlight: Brandon Podgorski

Whether he’s bringing on former college athletes interested in getting their master’s degree, or lifelong coaches looking to upskill their leadership styles, Brandon Podgorski is ready for it all. Bringing over 20 years of experience in higher education, college sports and athletic curriculum development, Podgorski is committed to making the Master of Science in Sports Leadership, the go-to degree for coaches and administrators interested in incorporating foundational leadership pillars into the sports world.

Change The Game As A Sports Leader

Becoming a leader in the sports industry doesn’t need to start tomorrow – it can start today. As one of the most fundamental activities in our American culture, sports doesn’t just stop at uniting people or teaching important values. Your love for sports can extend into different aspects such as coaching, administrating, and training students and professional athletes. Read more about our exciting new Master of Science in Sports Leadership.

ACU Online academic credit NASM certification

Accelerate Your Exercise Science Degree with NASM Certifications

Already certified with NASM? Now you can fast-track your Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at ACU Online! Earn up to 9 credit hours for your NASM certifications, including Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Sports Nutrition Coach (CSNC), and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). Save time, reduce costs and advance your career with this unique opportunity to combine your professional certifications with your academic goals.