Sports Analytics Webinar: Putting the Fun Back Into Analytics

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Walt DeGrange

The campus community and public at large are invited to attend "Sports Analytics: Putting the Fun Back Into Analytics," presented by Walt DeGrange, instructor in the Master of Science in Operations Management program and director for analytics capability for CANA Advisors.

The webinar will take place Wednesday, Nov. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. 

With the recent success of sports teams heavily using analytics (Dodgers, Patriots, Capitals, Warriors, Leicester City F.C.), does this mean that analytics has gained a foothold in the sports world? DeGrange uses a k-means clustering model to determine if performance since 2015 in the four major U.S. sports can answer this question. And, is there a career path that a high school student can use to become a sports analytics professional? 

This presentation attempts to answer that question by exploring all the areas of the application of analytics in sports. The final point the brief makes is that by using sports data to teach k-means clustering, students are more interested in learning advanced analytical concepts.

This webinar is part of the Master of Science in Operations Management Lunch and Learn webinar series.

About the speaker: Walt DeGrange is the director for Analytics Capability for CANA Advisors where he helps organizations use analytics across federal and commercial domains. Prior to CANA Advisors, he had 21 years of Naval service as a Supply Corps Officer. The last 10 years in the Navy, his positions focused on supply chain analytics. He has taught courses in the M.S.O.M. program since 2014. Prior to that, he was an assistant military professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in the Operations Research Department. Walt has also served on the Military Operations Research Society (MORS) Board of Directors and as the chair for the INFORMS SpORts Section. 

If you are unable to join at this time, please register to receive a link to the recorded webinar to enjoy at your leisure. 

Registration link: https://applygsie.uark.edu/register/sports_analytics