Navy veteran finds new direction through University of Miami’s online sport administration program

Sean Smith, a veteran of both the Army and Navy, is pursuing a career change through the University of Miami's online graduate program in sport administration. Having previously completed two online degrees, Smith said he was surprised by the level of engagement from faculty at the University.

"The big difference to me was the quality of the professors and the standards at Miami seemed higher (than at other programs,)" said Smith, who is 46 and lives in Las Vegas. He had been working security for the Las Vegas Raiders before leaving to focus on his master's studies full time.

"We have the same professors who teach on campus," Smith added. "That makes a big difference. Our professors demand as much from their online students as from any other student in the program."

Smith was recently featured in a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Help the Hero fundraising campaign hosted by Sport Clips. Since 2013, this initiative has raised $15.3 million for veteran scholarships. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, participating Sport Clips stores will provide free haircuts for veterans and active duty military personnel.

"I was honored to be selected and highlighted as an example of who the scholarship is for," Smith said. "I'm proud to represent the Navy and the University of Miami."

Smith noted that his experience at Miami has already had an impact on his career path. In October, he traveled to Miami to interview for an internship with FIFA for the World Cup, which will take place in 2026 across Miami and 15 other cities in North America.

"It was a great opportunity, and it was made clear to me (by my professors) that I had as good a chance as anyone (in the on-campus program)," said Smith, who expects to complete his degree in May 2026. "I'm trying to look ahead and not wait until graduation to begin looking for jobs."

Jill Buban, associate provost for online learning at the University of Miami, commented on how UOnline's flexible graduate programs are designed for military members and veterans.

"As a Yellow Ribbon school and one of the top military-supportive universities in the U.S., we are committed to meeting the educational needs of our active duty military service members and veterans," Buban said.

During his visit for the FIFA interview, Smith met with several professors including Windy Dees, graduate program director for sport administration at UM's School of Education and Human Development.

"Professor Dees immediately sat me down and asked about my career goals," Smith said. "That was one of her main areas of focus. It wasn't just about my classes, though we did discuss that. It's also about what you plan to do after graduation."

Dees praised Smith's transition from military service into academics: "Sean is talented and driven," Dees said. "I think his work ethic and drive come from his successful military career prior to joining our program at Miami."

Smith described receiving strong support as a student veteran at UM: "Any time I've called with a question, they have been very helpful," referring to staff at UM’s Veterans Services Department and Veterans Resource Center.

"I've worked in VA offices before, and the process can be difficult to understand," he added. "The process at UM is very smooth and easy. It's by far the best I've ever dealt with."

Explaining his interest in working with professional football organizations like the NFL, Smith drew parallels between sports teams and military units: "There is a camaraderie that comes with being part of a military organization that also translates into the world of sports," he said. "Everyone is in it together. If you're on the business side, you're working to get fans activated to go to the game. If you're on the operations side, you're helping players get ready to compete. Everyone has a piece of those wins and losses."

Dees highlighted success among veterans within their programs: "We are so proud of Sean and all our veterans that are current students or alumni of sport administration," she said. "We thank them for their service to our country. Thank you, Canes!"