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George Mason University students are proving a statistics degree can take you all the way to the pros. Students gathered in the Johnson Center on November 5 for a Sports Analytics Networking Event to learn about how data science is transforming athletics-and how George Mason students and alumni are leading the charge.

"Sports teams increasingly use data for developing strategies, boosting player performance, and improving fan engagement," said Department of StatisticsAssistant Professor Jonathan Auerbach. "Sports analytics allows students to turn their passion for sports and statistics into a high-impact and highly visible career."

The first panel at the Sports Analytics Networking Event. From left to right: Moderator Associate Professor Brett Hunter, Cole Boller-Pinkham, David Buxton, and Abby Finch.

"The future of sports is data, and we have been working hard with our colleagues from statistics to provide new opportunities for our students," said Sports Analytics Professor Craig Esherick.

The event, hosted by the Department of Statistics in collaboration with the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management; George Mason University Athletics; the George Mason University student chapter of the American Statistical Association; and the Sport Management Society featured two panels and a networking session designed to connect students with alumni working in sports analytics and those currently helping George Mason athletes thrive.

From Mason to the Majors

"Every team I've worked on, we have a lot of data, and nobody knows what to do with it," explained Abby Finch, an alum who worked in Baseball Technology for the New York Mets after graduating fromGeorge Mason statistics, during the first panel. "Having somebody who understands the player development side of baseball as well as what these data points mean-and being able to translate that data in a way that coaches understand-has been very valuable."

The Department of Statistics recognized Abby Finch (left) and David Buxton (right) as outstanding alumni.

Finch's fellow panelists included Cole Boller-Pinkham, a junior majoring in statistics with a concentration in sport analytics, currently interning with the United Soccer League, and David Buxton, an alum and specialist in player information for the Milwaukee Brewers. The panelists advised students interested in sports analytics careers to focus on developing the skill of interpreting and presenting data as well as analyzing it.

"Your goal isn't necessarily to share your statistical knowledge," said Buxton. "It's to change people's actions and help them buy into data-driven decision making."

Analytics in George Mason Athletics

The second panel, moderated by Esherick, explored how George Mason integrates analytics into collegiate athletics.

"We use data supported insights to guide how we develop our athletes," said Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning Faith Brown, whose academic research focuses on load monitoring in team sports. "We look at trends over time, adjust training loads, and even analyze preseason volume and intensity to reduce injury incidence. It's not just lifting weights-it's everything that goes into performance."

The second panel at the Sports Analytics Networking Event. From left to right: Moderator Professor Craig Esherick, Derek Vigon, and Faith Brown.

Sports psychology also plays a critical role, noted Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Sport Psychology Derek Vigon, who has consulted for the National Football League (NFL)'s Detroit Lions and worked with athletes in the National Basketball Association (NBA), NFL, and MLB. "I interpret psychological data to help athletes and coaches understand stress responses and focus issues," he said. "It's all data, and it can be flipped to improve performance."

Advice for Students

In addition to networking at events like this one, panelists advised students interested in sports analytics careers to be persistent and seize opportunities-such as joining George Mason's Analytics Team, participating in prediction competitions and hackathons, and exploring internships in George Mason Athletics' Patriot Performance Lab-when they come.

"If you're passionate about it, keep moving forward and try not to take no for an answer," advised Vigon. "Network, apply, and apply again. Eventually, it'll happen."

With alumni thriving in sports analytics, students contributing to cutting-edge research, and faculty integrating analytics into every facet of athletic performance, George Mason is positioning itself as a leader in sports analytics education. For students who dream of turning numbers into wins, George Mason can be the place where those dreams start.