Becoming a Sports Agent

Designed for beginners with no prior experience, this introductory course from Case Western Reserve University walks learners through the four stages of a professional athlete's career and the agent's role at each point. Topics include collective bargaining agreements across the NFL, MLB, and NBA, client recruitment and relationship management, contract negotiation, brand and endorsement management, intellectual property and publicity rights, financial planning, insurance, and preparing athletes for retirement. The course draws on lectures, guest speakers, reading assignments, and hypothetical case studies, making it relevant to anyone considering a career in athlete representation.

Delivered entirely online through Coursera, the course spans three weeks at approximately ten hours per week and is taught in English with subtitles available in 21 languages. It comprises 11 modules and 11 assignments, and upon completion learners earn a shareable certificate that can be added to a LinkedIn profile. The course is instructed by Peter A. Carfagna and Richard J. Volante, Esq., both of Case Western Reserve University, supported by a range of industry guest speakers throughout.