Speaker Profile

Scott Powers is an Assistant Professor of Sport Analytics and of Statistics at Rice University. His work focuses on conducting research and establishing academic curricula at the intersection of data science and sports.

Scott’s commitment to academic innovation in sports analytics began in 2016 when he designed and taught a pioneering course on the subject at Stanford University while completing his Ph.D. in Statistics.

Following his doctoral studies, Scott transitioned to professional baseball. He spent five seasons in Research and Development with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he earned a World Series ring in 2020. He subsequently served as an Assistant General Manager for the Houston Astros, securing a second World Series ring in 2022. His professional experience also includes consulting for the Oakland Athletics and the Dutch soccer club AZ Alkmaar.

Currently at Rice University, Scott is a core contributor to the new Sport Analytics major. He has designed three new sports analytics courses for the program since his arrival. His research uses tools from statistical machine learning and Bayesian modeling to address core problems in the field, including the measurement of individual contributions to team success, the projection of player performance, and the development of statistical methodology for modeling kinematic tracking data. He actively mentors and collaborates with undergraduate students through the research lab he established at Rice.