In our sixth episode of the Sport Analytics Podcast, our host Amrit Vignesh sits down with John Tobias, an on-air TV Statistician at ESPN, Program Director of Sports Analytics at UNC Charlotte, and Founder of the Strength in Numbers nonprofit. From producing real-time metrics in ESPN broadcasts, to creating one of the few collegiate sports analytics internship programs in the nation, to forging open pathways for underrepresented students—John embodies how passion and purpose can reshape the field.

John dives into:

Why “following your passion” isn’t just a cliché, it’s a strategy
for long-term success
How live-broadcast analytics blend raw data with time-pressed
storytelling
The growth of sports analytics education, culminating in UNC
Charlotte’s upcoming bachelor’s degree in the field
His Strength in Numbers nonprofit, which provides free sports
analytics camps at USC, Columbia, and UNC Charlotte
Why practical experience (even if unpaid!) and strong communication
skills can vault you ahead in a fiercely competitive industry

Key Takeaways:

Rapid-Fire Stats: Strategies for crunching data on the fly so fans
can hear meaningful insights in mere seconds.
Coaching Communication: Why data visualization and plain English
matter more than dense code in real-world team settings.
Closing the Gap: Building resources and mentorship opportunities to
broaden analytics access for women and minorities.
Experiential Learning: How real-world, hands-on projects in college
sports can transform a student’s résumé overnight.
Career Pivots: Lessons learned from John’s own switch from finance
to a fulfilling ESPN role—and why it’s never too late to chase your
dreams.

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📧 For inquiries or collaborations, contact Dave Yount at [email protected].

🎵 Music Credit: Intro and outro music for this episode is “Nomu” by Good Kid.

#SportsAnalytics #ESPN #UNCCharlotte #Broadcasting #DataScience #StrengthInNumbers #AnalyticsEducation #DiversityAndInclusion #CareerAdvice #StudentInternships

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