The Power of Data-Driven Sports Analytics
Want to be at the forefront of a rapidly growing field that combines the excitement of sports with the power of business analytics?
Sounds like you'd be a great fit for our Sports Analytics Lab, a groundbreaking program that equips students with the skills to transform raw data into actionable insights for athletic teams.
Real-World Projects, Tangible Impact
The Sports Analytics Lab isn't just about crunching numbers; it's about turning data into actionable insights that can give teams a competitive edge. Students work on real-world projects, analyzing everything from player performance metrics to facility upgrades and their impact on team success.
One of the lab's recent projects involved examining college hockey programs that invested in facility renovations and tracking their performance in the years that followed. The findings revealed a significant uptick in performance for teams that had upgraded their facilities, demonstrating the power of data-driven decision-making in sports.
Another project focused on analyzing a decade's worth of recruiting data for the UNH hockey team, including player height, weight, and geographic origins. This information provided coaches with a comprehensive view of their recruiting efforts, allowing them to identify trends and patterns that could inform future strategies.
Preparing Future Business Analytics Professionals
The Sports Analytics Lab doesn't just benefit athletic teams; it also provides students with invaluable real-world experience that can open doors to exciting career opportunities in the rapidly growing field of business analytics. You can develop key skills in:
- Data collection and management
- Statistical analysis and modeling
- Data visualization and communication
- Strategic decision-making
- Project management and client relations
Get in the Game
Whether you're a passionate athlete or a budding data scientist, this innovative course offers a unique opportunity to merge your interests and gain a competitive edge in the world of sports analytics.
The lab is part of our unique class-club model, where students lead the management and direction of the program under a dedicated faculty advisor. (Shoutout Peter Zaimes!) It counts for two credits each semester, and can be repeated for a maximum of eight total credits.
Jake MacInnis '24, a Paul Scholar and former UNH football player, played a key role in launching the lab and is thrilled about the potential impact.
"I've never been more excited about something when it comes to school," he says. "It's a blessing to be able to combine my interest in analytics with sports, something that I have participated in my entire life and love."
