MSLB students talking outside of ASU Law building

Master of Sports Law and Business

Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business program

The Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is centrally located in vibrant downtown Phoenix. This unique program blends sports, law, and business from a nationally ranked law school with world-class faculty, including MLB Commissioner Emeritus Allan “Bud” Selig. Phoenix is a destination for the next generation of sports professionals, boasting opportunities for working, learning, and networking in every major industry in American sports.

36

Total credit hours

80%

of 2021 graduates have sports jobs/internships within 6 months of graduation

93%

of faculty actively works in sports industry while teaching

Master of Sports Law and Business degrees

The Master of Sports Law and Business degree is comprised of 36 credits and can be completed in either one or two academic years based on the student’s preference. The 36 credits are divided between required courses (21 credits), electives (9-12 credits), and an internship or applied project (3-6 credits). Click here to view a detailed description of the program curriculum.

Applied Sports Marketing will be offered during the Spring term.

While the Sports Law and Business Program is only a few years old, graduates of the program have already secured positions in some of the top sports organizations around the country. The SLB program flexibility allows students to pursue whatever career path in the sports industry they are interested in. Some examples of the many segments of the sports industry graduates have gone into are operations, marketing/branding, compliance/legal, community relations, student athlete/player development, communications, agency, and more. The following list includes just some of the sports organizations our graduates have jobs or internships with:

Professional sports

Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Coyotes
Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Red Wings
Golden State Warriors
Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Sparks
Minor League Baseball
National Basketball Association
National Football League
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Islanders
New York Mets
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns

College sports

Fiesta Bowl
Georgia Tech Athletics
MAAC Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
NCAA Final Four
NCAA National Office
Pac-12
Rose Bowl Game
Sun Belt Conference
Sun Devil Athletics
University of California, Irvine Athletics
University of Florida Athletics
Women’s Basketball Coaches Association

Other sports organizations

Adidas
Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission
CAA Icon
DraftKings
Excel Sports Management
FanDuel
Insight Sports Advisors
ISE Worldwide
John Deere Classic
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
PGA of America
Steve Levine Entertainment
USA Triathlon

Dale Adams – General Manager, Gila River Arena Vice President Event Development, AEG Facilities
Ray Anderson – Vice President for University Athletics and Athletic Director, Arizona State University
Lon Babby – Retired President of Basketball Operations, Phoenix Suns
Jeff Benz – Arbitrator, Mediator, and Special Master, Jams
Kevin Blue – Chief Sport Officer, Golf Canada
Dan Burns – Executive Chairman, EXOS Human Performance
Peter Carlisle – Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Olympic and Action Sports Division, Octagon
Gregg Clifton – Managing Principal, Jackson Lewis (Phoenix Office)
Ahron Cohen – Venture Partner, ADvantage Sports Tech Fund
Willie Derrick Crawford – Vice President, Hearing Operations, National Collegiate Athletic Association
Woodie Dixon – General Counsel, Chegg Inc.
Richard Ensor – Commissioner, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Troy Ewanchyna – General Manager, Princeton Sports Properties
Sean Ford – Men’s National Team Director, USA Basketball
Mike Gallagher – Principal/Founder, Gallagher and Kennedy
Dave Gardi – Senior Vice President, Football Operations, National Football League
Jeff Gewirtz – Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, Brooklyn Nets, New York Islanders, and Barclays Center
Melissa Goldenberg – General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Phoenix Suns
Robin Harris – Executive Director, The Ivy League
Rocky Harris – Chief Executive Officer, USA Triathlon
Bill Hubbard – Chairman, Tokio Marine HCC – Specialty Group
Alexa Huchingson – Vice President, Business Development, Elevate Sports Ventures
Jeff Ianello – Executive Vice President of Client Partnerships, SeatGeek
Zaileen Janmohamed – Head of Partnership Development and Innovation, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties
Caleb Jay – General Counsel, Arizona Diamondbacks

Scott Kaufman-Ross – Senior Vice President, Head of Fantasy and Gaming, National Basketball Association
Nina King – Vice President, Director of Athletics, Duke University
John Langbein – Founder and President, Ticket Exchange Inc.
Nona Lee – Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Arizona Diamondbacks
Burke Magnus – Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN
Warde Manuel – Director of Athletics, University of Michigan
John Martin – Vice President, Media and Event Technology, NASCAR
Wade Martin – CEO, Bouldering Project
Bernadette McGlade – Commissioner, Atlantic 10
Lou Melendez – President, Lou Melendez, LLC
Vicky Neumeyer – Senior Vice President, and General Counsel, New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints
Bob Newman – President and CEO, ASM Global
Dave Palanzo – Senior Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, Women’s Tennis Association
Jeff Price – Chief Commercial Officer
Tom Sadler – President and CEO, Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority (ASTA)
Bud Selig – Commissioner Emeritus, Major League Baseball
Debbie Spander – Founder and CEO, Insight Sports Advisors
Bryan Sperber – President, Noral Entertainment
Naima Stevenson – Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Varsity Brands
Bill Strickland – Senior Vice President, Life Sports Media Entertainment, LLC
Ben Tario – Deputy Commissioner/Chief Financial Officer, Business and Legal Affairs, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
Travis Tygart – Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
George VanderZwaag – Executive Director of Athletics, University of Rochester

Student opportunities

The Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business program is proud to offer admitted students Graduate Assistant opportunities to work directly with the MSLB Graduate Assistant team. Graduate Assistantship positions are awarded to recipients based on those who demonstrate exceptional experience working in sports, as well as a sincere understanding and background of the required qualifications and duties of the desired role.

Allan “Bud” Selig Scholars Program

Commissioner Selig and the Sports Law and Business Program select one MSLB candidate and one JD candidate each academic year to be awarded the Allan “Bud” Selig Scholarship. This scholarship is given to candidates that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and true passion for the societal impact of sports.

MSLB Graduate Assistantship Program with Sun Devil Athletics

The Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business program is proud to partner with Sun Devil Athletics in offering admitted MSLB students the opportunity to work directly with the Athletics Department.

Click below to learn more about the Allan "Bud" Selig Scholarship and the MSLB Graduate Assistantship.

Learn more

Sports Law and Business Expertise

The Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business program has an impressive roster of faculty who bring an extensive amount of expertise to the program. The MSLB faculty provide unique insight into many sports professions and dedicate their time to help MSLB students confidently and successfully navigate the sports industry.

Aaron Hernandez
Executive Director; Assistant Dean, Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program

Evan Singletary
Director, Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program

Glenn Wong
Distinguished Professor of Practice (FSC), Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program

Griffin Limongelli
Program Coordinator, Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program

Stephanie Jarvis
Teaching Associate Professor, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law; Principal SJarvis Consulting

Michael Mokwa
Professor and Pat Tillman Foundation Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Marketing, W. P. Carey School of Business; Faculty Associate, Sports Law and Business Program

Commissioner Emeritus Allan H. "Bud" Selig
Sandra Day O'Connor Distinguished Professor of Sports in America

Don E. Gibson
Professor of Practice
CEO, Brandtheon

Christopher Lee
Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing, W. P. Carey School of Business; Owner and Consultant, ChristopherLee.com

Melissa Goldenberg
Faculty Associate, Senior Vice President and General Counsel,
Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury

Jessica Guffey
Faculty Associate, Group Director, Brand and Marketing
at OH Partners

Caleb Jay
Professor of Practice, General Counsel, Arizona Diamondbacks

Dana Hooper
Faculty Associate, Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Ray Anderson
Professor of Practice, Vice President for University
Athletics/Athletics Director,
Sun Devil Athletics

Lon Babby
Faculty Associate, Former President of Basketball, Operations, Phoenix Suns

Natesh Rao
Faculty Associate, Sr. Associate AD, Sun Devil Athletics

Annie Riches
Faculty Associate, Senior Digital Media Strategist - Paid Social

Robert Yowell
Faculty Associate, President, Gemini Sports Group

Dan Burns
Executive Chairman, EXOS. General Partner, Sonoran Founders Fund; Associate Faculty, Sports Law and Business Program

Keevan Statz
Clinical Assistant Professor, W. P. Carey Marketing

Frequently asked questions about the Master of Sports Law and Business program

Is the Allan "Bud" Selig Sports Law and Business Program a master’s program or a law program?

The Selig Sports Law and Business Program is a master’s program that is housed in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Graduates of this program will receive a master’s degree, not a J.D. degree. Applicants apply directly to the SLB program and are not required to complete the law application or take the LSAT unless they plan to pursue a concurrent JD/MSLB degree.

What can I do with a MSLB degree?

The MSLB degree is designed for students to achieve any desired path in the sports following graduation. Alumni of the program have gone on to jobs in the sports industry in areas such as operations, marketing/branding, compliance/legal, sales, community relations, communications, business development, sponsorships, student athlete/player development, and more.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The SLB program is comprised of 36 total credits and can be completed in either one year or two years, based on the preference of the student. 58% of the 2021 cohort is on a two-year track, with the other 42% on a one-year track. Graduate Assistants with Sun Devil Athletics are required to do the program in two years due to work commitments.

Is an internship required?

Yes, an internship is required as part of the SLB curriculum. It is the responsibility of the student to secure an internship, but the SLB department will assist as best as we can in finding an internship. If the internship is completed over the summer, the student will have to pay for the summer credits through ASU.

Can the SLB program be done online?

No, the SLB program is only available in-person with no online option.

What do I need to do in order to apply to the SLB program?

Applicants must submit the SLB application, resume, personal statement, two references, and an elevator/marketing pitch to apply for the SLB program. Go to the SLB admission page for full application requirements and our application timeline.

What are the weighing factors in the application to the SLB program?

The three main factors considered by the admissions committee are previous sports experience, academic performance, and quality of your application materials. For reference, the median GPA for our 2021 class was 3.55 and 100% of students in the 2020 and 2021 classes had previous sports experience, which includes volunteering, internships, jobs, and student athlete experience.

What is the cost of this program?

The cost of this program can be found on the tuition and fees page. For more information about program and tuition fees, please reach out to Eric Border at eric.border@asu.edu.

What scholarship/graduate assistant positions does this program offer?

The SLB program offers two Selig Scholarships each year, along with several graduate assistant positions with the program. Outside of the program, Sun Devil Athletics offers graduate assistant positions, including a select few that are only offered to SLB students. You can read more about these positions here.

Is the SLB program open to international students?

Yes, the Sports Law and Business Program is open to and welcomes international students.

I am really interested in this program and want to know even more. What can I do to stay informed?

To stay up to date on the Sports Law and Business Program, follow our social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@SeligSLB) as well as our LinkedIn. If you have any additional questions, reach out to the program at mslbasu@asu.edu.