PLNU partners with professional sports organizations in San Diego to offer students applied learning experiences in high-performance environments.
These partnerships create access to real-world settings where students can engage meaningfully with the sports industry — gaining hands-on experience, building professional networks, and applying their education in ways that contribute to their long-term career and calling.
San Diego Padres
PLNU maintains a collaborative partnership with the San Diego Padres through its Biomechanics Lab, housed at the university’s Balboa Regional Center. The lab supports research and applied practice in biomechanics, exercise physiology, and athletic performance, with specific projects designed to inform injury prevention and player development.
Students in PLNU’s College of Health Science programs have opportunities to:
- Collect and analyze biomechanical and physiological data using tools such as 3D motion capture, force plates, and wearable tech
- Contribute to ongoing research in collaboration with Padres staff and trainers
- Gain experience in a professional-level sports science environment
This lab is integrated into coursework and research pathways, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in a context directly aligned with professional athletics and human performance.
San Diego FC
PLNU’s partnership with San Diego Football Club (SDFC) reflects a shared commitment to education, leadership development, and strengthening the broader San Diego community. Through this partnership, PLNU students gain access to professional experiences across multiple areas of sport operations and leadership.
A key component of the collaboration is an internship program, in which students from PLNU are selected annually to work within SDFC’s sports management department. Internship placements may include roles in:
- Marketing and communications
- Public relations
- Creative services and content
- Ticketing and fan engagement
- Community initiatives
- Commercial partnerships
- Club operations
These internships provide valuable exposure to how a professional sports organization functions both on the field and behind the scenes, preparing students for careers in sport leadership, business, and community development.
SDFC also periodically provides guest speakers from their staff, offering students insight into areas such as leadership, branding, athlete development, and career pathways within the professional sports industry.