Interning at Sports Reference
The Sports Reference Summer Internship program has proven to be a launchpad for students looking to break into the sports industry.
Having run for over 10 years, our full-time, paid summer internship program is available to degree-seeking students or recent graduates looking to gain experience on data, engineering, marketing, and/or product departments.
Why should you intern at Sports Reference?
Our program gives interns the opportunity to obtain real-world experience in the sports industry, while also working on meaningful projects to showcase in their portfolios. Interns will have the chance to learn across departments and about different areas of the business.
While based in Philadelphia, Sports Reference is a remote-first company, offering a flexible schedule for interns to complete their work and maintain a work-life balance.
More perks of the program:
- Competitive pay
- Flexible work schedule
- Remote work environment
- Opportunity to work in-person for interns in the Philly area
- Resume reviews and career development activities
- Lunch & Learns hosted by members of our team
- Networking guests in the sports industry
- Opportunities to build camaraderie among interns through team-building activities
Wondering which department you’d fit best in?
Here are descriptions of each department at SR. Interns will have the opportunity to work on projects related to these responsibilities:
Data
The data department compiles, cleans, manages and maintains our sites’ data so our users can enjoy, understand, and share the sports that they love. They ensure that our data is accurate and consistent, identify ways to expand the information on our sites, and help users with any questions they have on our sites.
Engineering
The engineering department handles the overall development and infrastructure of our sites, and works to ensure there aren’t any issues for our users when they look for their favorite teams and players. This includes our software, test, and DevOps engineers, along with our Scrum Masters, who all keep our sites up and running for users to enjoy.
Marketing
The marketing department promotes and handles revenue generation, as well as public relations for Sports Reference. Across digital, product, social, and community marketing, our team shares and educates our users on our work. The marketing department brings new audiences to the sites and keeps the community coming back for more.
Product
The product department decides what to build and improve on our sites, ensuring that every update and area is valuable to our users. This includes our product management, user research, user experience design, and search engine optimization disciplines. From research, to cross-functional coordination, to implementation, they are involved in every step of the process.
Here are some of the places our interns have worked after graduating:
Check out what our interns and their managers said about the program, as well as a word from our President, Sean Forman.
“I researched every Division 1 women’s college basketball school back to 1982. Women’s basketball has traditionally been underrepresented both in terms of media and recorded history so it was fun to dig through media guides and uncover those stories.
I absolutely loved my time at Sports Reference and often tell people I would go back there even if they didn’t do cool sports data things because the company culture is just so awesome. Even after my internship, I’ve been welcomed with open arms every time I have a suggestion/comment/question and I frequently test new Stathead features which is so fun! I still talk to the other interns in my cohort to this day!”
— Billy Fryer, 2022 Data Intern
“My most valuable project was undoubtedly one in which I tracked down information on WNBA assistant coaches + trainers since the league's inception. From problem solving skills, to data collection skills, attention to detail, and--once the data was ready for implementation on the site--SQL skills, it was an incredibly impactful project. Contributing to SR's dedication to expanding women's sports coverage, while having my work displayed on the site, was unparalleled.
The culture at SR is special, and they truly practice what they preach. Beyond that, their commitment to ensuring their interns get the most out of their time is evident. I am grateful for the continued support of several of those in the company even as I've moved beyond SR. The connection is invaluable, and their support means so much.”
— Alison Gilmore, 2023 Data Intern
“Over the course of the summer, I worked on multiple tasks to expand user access to WNBA stats. I loved having the opportunity to expand access to information on women’s sports! Throughout the summer, I became familiar with Perl, SQL, and Git. While the technical skills themselves have proved beneficial, the most important knowledge I gained was learning how to ask the right questions, pick up new concepts quickly, and communicate professionally.
Everyone I met at SR wanted me to succeed. I was given impactful work and made lasting changes to the websites. I also met with employees from many areas of the company and connected with the other interns. I would recommend an internship at SR to anyone who is passionate about sports, has a growth mindset, and wants to make real changes!
— Jordan Doyle, 2023 Engineering Intern
“My main project was adding goal logs to FB-Ref. This project was very valuable for getting experience with a real-world information system. Working on a project within an existing codebase and learning software/project management principles was beneficial. Although I have regularly used tools such as GitHub since my internship, working for SR was my first experience with them.
My mentor, Dan, was amazing during my internship. He was always willing to answer questions and help me develop my skill set while providing great feedback on my code throughout the summer. I also got a resume review from Jaclyn for my application to the job I am currently working. Her advice was phenomenal and was a significant help in helping to get a full-time role in sports. I loved my summer at SR and have recommended the internship to many friends.”
— Rylee Buchert, 2023 Engineering Intern
“I had the opportunity to develop a proof of concept (POC) for a natural language query (NLQ) tool that could be integrated into Stathead. I led the project from start to finish, from setting up initial queries to conducting user interviews—insights that could play a key role in shaping the company’s direction for this search feature. Additionally, I gained a deeper understanding of a product management role and honed my product sense, which will be invaluable as I pursue future opportunities in this field.
My experience at Sports Reference was incredibly rewarding. The team was welcoming and always willing to help. I appreciated the opportunity to work on projects that aligned with my interests and the chance to learn a great deal. I would recommend this role to anyone who is interested in product and wants to be part of a company that offers a nurturing environment for its interns.”
— Arjun Ramprasad, 2024 Product Intern
“There were so many areas of marketing I explored during my time at Sports Reference – I created short form content for social media, researched potential influencer partners, partook in big-picture strategy conversations, and crafted email drip campaigns. Not only did these experiences help improve my marketing skills, they also provided insight into which areas of marketing I’m most excited to pursue in my career!
The marketing team was incredibly kind and cared deeply about my professional development. For a remote company, there is so much camaraderie—I really appreciated the creative ways coworkers connect with each other on a personal level. Sports Reference was definitely the best internship experience I’ve ever had!”
— Matt Severino, 2024 Marketing Intern
“Everything I worked on as an intern truly made an impact on the company. I even pitched the idea for this page you’re reading right now, and worked with the team to bring it to life. I also worked with my co-intern on short-form video content all summer to develop a strategy for the marketing team. It was awesome to see the results of building up our social accounts’ video presence, and presenting them to the team.
My entire experience at SR was incredible, and that’s a testament to the people I worked with. The marketing team genuinely wanted me to learn and grow, so I was given projects that expanded my skill set. This summer solidified the type of work I want to do and I am so grateful to those on the team who shared their knowledge with me. Apply for this program, you will not regret it!”
— Lindsey Komson, 2024 Marketing Intern
“I've greatly enjoyed mentoring our interns the last few years and seeing them grow and develop new skills! One of the things I emphasize when managing the marketing team interns is making sure that they get practical, hands-on experience in every facet of work our team does. This is not a "get coffee and file papers" kind of internship; our interns are full members of our team who take the lead on important projects and leave with practical experience and tangible accomplishments.”
— Jonah Gardner, Product Marketing Manager and Marketing Intern Manager
“Mentoring engineering interns has been incredibly rewarding. Their enthusiasm for learning and eagerness to contribute creates a dynamic and inspiring work environment. It's truly gratifying to witness their growth and development over the course of the internship. Their ability to tackle complex challenges with such craftsmanship is inspiring, and seeing their contributions directly impact our users is a highlight of my role.”
— Dan Hirsch, Principal Software Engineer I and Engineering Intern Manager
“It has been so neat to work with students who share some of my interests and give them a peek into what a full time job in data looks like. Getting to see projects they worked on go live on our sites is always a proud and exciting moment. I’ve been wowed when our data interns go above and beyond and turn our data into content for social media. Watching some of my former interns take on new roles with professional teams has made me proud and it’s been especially fun to start having alums back to speak to new interns.”
— Charlotte Eisenberg, Senior Data Developer I and Data Intern Manager
“I enjoy working with our Product Interns because it is such a cross-functional role that introduces them to every area of the business. The Product group works closely with Data, Marketing, and Engineering to research, define, and execute on our opportunities. Our Product Interns have led research projects, synthesized user interviews, conducted competitive analyses, collaborated on product design, documented functionality and feature requests, and more. It is awesome to see our interns navigate the product space and find the areas they really enjoy and can make an immediate impact. As a still-developing manager, that rapid growth leads to quick feedback loops that help me in my career as well.”
— Adam Darowski, Executive Design Director and Product Intern Manager
“The internship program is important to me because we bring talented people from a variety of backgrounds, interests, and experiences together who want to make an impact on the sports industry. We work with our interns to provide them experiences that will launch their careers. Interns get to tackle real-world projects in the department of their choosing while providing our users with a more engaging experience. It's been very gratifying to see so many of our interns continue their careers working at teams and in the industry.”
— Sean Forman, President of Sports Reference
Note: responses have been lightly edited for clarity
Here’s how the application process works:
- Applications open: Mid-December
- Applications close: Mid-January
- Phone screening: End of January or beginning of February
- Offer letters sent: Beginning of March
The phone screen is the only interview in the process, which will include the team’s intern manager and another member of the team for around 30 minutes.
Please review the internship application for exact dates on the hiring timeline. Sign up for email reminders when the application opens.
FAQs and Requirements
FAQs:
What are the dates of the program?
Our internship program allows for flexible start/end dates based on your school/travel schedule. The full length of the program runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Is this internship paid?
Yes, all our interns are paid a competitive hourly rate that is listed in each year’s application.
What do you mean by “flexible schedule?”
For our interns, we require that they work 40 hours per week, but those hours can be allocated throughout the week any way they’d like*, as long as they are able to attend meetings with their team and manager.
Can I get college credit for my internship?
We have offered college credit to past interns who request it through their college/university. For exact details, consult your interviewer during the phone screening stage.
Can I apply for the program if I’m working towards a higher education degree?
Yes! We accept all applicants who are currently working towards or have recently completed a degree - Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, PhD, etc. We would like to note that the program was designed for undergraduate students, but can be modified to fit a candidate’s experience if we see fit.
Can I apply to the program if I’m an international student?
We require that interns have a legal right to work in the US, which also means that they would be in a US time zone for the duration of the internship. Having interns in non-US time zones would be difficult to coordinate at this time.
*Note: In compliance with state laws, some interns may not be able to work more than 8 hours in a day. This will be communicated upon receiving an offer from Sports Reference.
Program Requirements:
- Must have a legal right to work in the United States
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be a current degree-seeking student or recently graduated upon starting the program
Ready to apply?
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