Renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg to host “Agent Academy”

Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who’s considered to be one of the most influential figures in all of sports, will be hosting his second ever “Sports Agent Academy” on May 16 at Steinberg Sports & Entertainment’s headquarters in Newport Beach, California.

The event is back by popular demand after Steinberg, who’s well known for his inspiration of the film Jerry Maguire, held his inaugural academy back in October of 2014, where 25 aspiring agents had the opportunity of learning the ins and outs of representation from one of the industry’s best.

“Students always ask me what does it take to be an agent,” Steinberg said. “It’s not easy to answer them all but I have a tremendous interest in seeing young, ethical and idealist professionals succeed.”

During his accomplished 41-year career, Steinberg has represented hundreds of professional athletes including the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL draft a record eight times. In the process, he has negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts for his clients, which include the likes of Warren Moon, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Oscar de la Hoya.

According to Steinberg, though, it all really starts his mission and philosophy of representation, which entails the idea of athletes as role models and getting them involved in the community and giving back through charity at the beginning of their careers. By following this principle, professional athletes are able to build a pathway toward to a second career.

“As an athlete’s agent, it’s about more than just making money, but rather the commitment to a long-term career of an athlete,” Steinberg said. “Athletes have the capacity to do multiple things and it’s important that they are able to see their nonathletic skills so that they have the opportunity to make a difference in the world in an area other than sports.”

A number of Steinberg’s clients have previously gone on to have successful careers in broadcasting, working in the venture capital and tech industry and owning professional teams.

Steinberg who’s spoken on over 80 different college campuses including USC this past February, says he founded the academy in order to provide young professionals, who are interested in a career in any field related to sports, entertainment or representation, with a learning experience that teaches them the necessary skills to succeed in a hyper-competitive industry.

The academy educates young professionals in a plethora of relevant areas, training them how to put together a representation practice, recruit and find clients, put together endorsement packages and much more.

“The academy goes above and beyond what any sports law, business, or management class would teach you,” Steinberg said. “We teach everyone the art of negotiation, how to read a collective bargaining agreement, how to put on charity programs and how to mentor athletes.”

Overall, Steinberg emphasizes the importance of aspiring agents being able to ultimately brand and distinguish themselves in a way that allows them to stand out, which is one of the key skills that he wants those in attendance to take away from the academy.

“It’s my goal to make this a very hands-on, personal and life changing experience for everyone and they’re all ought to come out of the academy much more confident to be a sports agent or professional,” Steinberg said. “I have an interest in making sure that sports and the field of agentry is left in good hands.”

Following this installment of the academy in Southern California, Steinberg looks forward to taking the academy to more cities nationwide.