10 Tech Roles for Sports Fanatics

Have you ever imagined turning your passion for sports into a lucrative career? While professional athletes, coaches, and broadcasters are the first sports career paths that might come to mind, the truth is many individuals are working diligently behind the scenes of your favorite teams.

Tech can be an overlooked field in sports, as you may not think about the data analyst tracking the real-time stats or the software engineer who created the software for your fantasy league. However, as sports organizations evolve their use of technology, a new generation of sports technology careers will be created, especially in emerging fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. In this article, you’ll explore several of the most popular tech roles in sports and provide tips for breaking into the industry.

AI and Machine Learning Roles in Sports

Just as AI and machine learning have taken the world by storm, they are also transforming sports. Today, many professional sports leagues are leveraging the power of AI for scouting, predicting player injuries, scheduling, and fan engagement. With AI continuing to emerge as a powerful tool in sports, many lucrative opportunities exist for those eager to enter the field. Since AI and machine learning are still emerging in sports, career opportunities are only starting to become widely available — making now a perfect time to develop your skills. To help you get a better sense of AI’s impact in sports, let’s explore a few popular roles:

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers are the architects responsible for designing, building, and maintaining complex AI systems. In sports, you’ll analyze player data, build AI systems that analyze game footage, predict outcomes, and develop personalized fan experiences. Machine learning engineers contribute to the overall success of sports organizations by minimizing risks, maximizing potential, and unlocking new insights.

Sports Data Scientist

In the competitive world of sports, data scientists help give teams the upper hand by using statistical and machine-learning methods to extract and analyze data from players, teams, and fans. You’ll be responsible for developing predictive models and designing experiments that can help solve complex business problems and gain insight into new trends. These insights can help personalize training programs, influence draft picks, develop game plans, and tailor fan experiences.

Data Analytics Roles in Sports

While data analytics has always been a part of sports, its becoming increasingly more popular as teams look to leverage it for a competitive edge. In fact, by 2025, the global sports analytics market is expected to reach $4.6 billion, according to Forbes. With the growing importance of data in sports, teams at all levels seek highly skilled data analysts to make sense of the mountains of performance, marketing, and consumer data collected daily. If this sounds enticing, here are a few data roles to consider.

Sports Data Analyst

Sports data analysts are similar to data scientists, but their primary responsibilities differ. As a sports data analyst, you’ll analyze trends, create reports, and identify patterns that can help optimize training, develop scouting reports, predict game outcomes, and create marketing campaigns. Compared to data scientists, sports data analysts typically use more creative and analytical abilities rather than highly technical skills.

Ticketing Analyst

Ticket sales are a significant revenue driver for most college and professional sports teams. Ticketing analysts are critical in managing and analyzing ticket sales for teams and events. You’ll track trends and identify patterns in ticket sales to help maximize revenue generation and improve the overall fan experience.

Coding Roles in Sports

Although a software engineer may not be the first career in sports you think of, they are an integral part of the industry. Software engineers, web developers, and other skilled coding professionals are responsible for the digital infrastructure in sports. From creating online fan engagement experiences to developing complex, cutting-edge databases, professionals with coding skills have ample opportunities in sports. Here are a few potential coding roles in sports to explore.

Sports App Developer

Whether you’re managing a fantasy team, looking for the latest scores, or want to place your bet on a game, there’s an app for you. Behind these apps are skilled developers who leverage their coding skills to create seamless user experiences and conceptualize innovative ideas based on current trends and needs.

eSports Game Developer

At the intersection of sports and gaming lies the competitive field of eSports. According to market research firm Statista, the eSports market is expected to reach 856.5 million users globally by 2028. With such growth, eSports game developers will be in great demand as they help drive innovation and shape the future landscape of eSports. Game developers design and create the game's engine, setting the foundation for a smooth and competitive experience. You’ll focus on developing engaging gameplay mechanics and balancing challenge, skill, and reward to keep players interested.

Cybersecurity Roles in Sports

Defense wins games — and it also helps protect your digital infrastructure. Cybersecurity Ventures expects the global cost of cybercrime to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, and sports organizations aren’t exempt. Professional sports teams are often a high-value target for hackers and cybercriminals, according to cybersecurity and data privacy company Cavelo. If you like the idea of defending your favorite team from costly cybercrime, here are a few popular cybersecurity roles in sports.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts help safeguard sensitive data like player contracts, financial records, fan information, and intellectual property from unauthorized access or manipulation. As an information security analyst, you’ll continuously monitor networks and systems for suspicious activity, analyzing logs and alerts to identify potential breaches. In a security breach, you’ll develop and implement a rapid response plan to contain the damage and minimize impact.

Security Architect

Security architects design and implement the overall security architecture for the organization's network and systems, considering their specific needs and risks. In this role, you’ll ensure the smooth operation of critical systems, prevent disruptions to ticket sales, and, most importantly, help build trust with sponsors, partners, and fans by protecting their personal information.

How to Launch a Tech Career in Sports

In today's sports landscape, technology is an integral part of the game, creating exciting new career opportunities. So, are you ready to get off of the sidelines and into the game? Here are a few tips for launching a successful tech career in sports:

• Find your niche: From data analytics to app development and cybersecurity to AI, there are many tech fields within tech to choose from. Find the one that best aligns with your interests and career goals.

• Build your skills: Hone your skills through tech bootcamps, online courses, and personal projects. Fullstack Academy’s tech bootcamps provide hands-on learning experiences, solving real-world problems with the latest industry-standard tools. Plus, you can finish bootcamp in as few as 10 weeks — putting you on the fast track to a rewarding career in sports.

• Showcase your strengths: Develop a strong portfolio to showcase your newfound skills to potential employers. Pro tip: If you enroll in a Fullstack Academy bootcamp, you’ll graduate with a portfolio of projects!

• Identify your dream team: Research sports organizations you’d like to work for and network with other sports tech professionals to help gain a deeper understanding of the industry.

• Stay in the game: Commit to continuous learning and stay ahead of the tech curve. With sports being a dynamic industry, it’s important to have a growth mindset to ensure you can keep up.

Remember, launching a tech career in sports requires passion, persistence, and a strategic game plan. Having a trusted team by your side is essential to maximize your success. At Fullstack Academy, we help you develop the in-demand skills needed to thrive in some of the fast-growing tech fields and provide career support to help you land your first role. Explore Fullstack Academy’s reputable tech bootcamp programs to learn how you can become an MVP in your chosen field.