UC Berkeley Hosts Inaugural Winning Analytics Summit to Boost Athletics

On February 4, 2026, UC Berkeley launched the inaugural Winning Analytics Summit at the California Memorial Stadium, gathering over 100 participants, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners. This daylong event aimed to explore how the university’s expertise in data science can enhance athletic performance and community engagement within Cal Athletics.

Understanding Data’s Role in Athletics

The summit marked a pivotal moment for the Winning Analytics initiative, which integrates data specialists from across the university with the athletics department. Chancellor Rich Lyons emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Berkeley was built for just this sort of multilayered challenge and opportunity that demands multidisciplinary collaboration and comprehensive excellence.”

As Cal Athletics oversees 30 varsity programs and more than 850 student-athletes, maintaining a legacy of success—including 105 team championships and 332 individual titles—requires innovative strategies. At the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, Cal athletes secured 23 medals, positioning them 12th overall if they had participated as an independent nation. To sustain this excellence, the department must embrace new analytical approaches.

Over recent months, a comprehensive data audit was undertaken across all 30 sports and 20 support units, involving hundreds of student-athletes and staff. This audit aimed to assess existing data collection methods, management practices, and how this information informs decision-making processes. Findings revealed numerous technology systems in use, with data primarily overseen by assistant coaches and athletic performance staff, often alongside their regular duties.

Challenges and Collaborative Solutions

The audit highlighted several core challenges facing the athletics department. Key questions included: How can talent recruitment be optimized? What methods can unlock each athlete’s potential? How can data be transformed into actionable insights? Identifying the right training loads and preparing teams to peak at crucial moments are also essential considerations.

The summit’s morning session offered insights into the current landscape of data and analytics in academia and sports, complemented by findings from the audit. The afternoon transitioned into a hackathon-style working session, where participants collaborated to brainstorm potential projects and partnerships.

Lyons reiterated the importance of alumni engagement in supporting Berkeley’s mission, noting that intercollegiate athletics significantly enhances this connection. “I can’t wait to see how this initiative will increase what I refer to as ‘mission-advancing return’ on our investment in Cal Athletics,” he remarked.

The Winning Analytics initiative addresses these challenges through the RPE Framework: recruiting, performance, and engagement. By leveraging advanced analytics and predictive modeling, the program aims to enhance talent identification and retention. Furthermore, data-driven insights into training and wellness will support both athletic and academic success, while also strengthening donor relationships and enhancing fan experiences.

Co-Athletic Directors Jenny Simon-O’Neill and Jay Larson have been instrumental in advocating for this initiative, reflecting their commitment to integrating athletics within the broader Berkeley community. The summit was made possible through the generous support of Matt Levin, whose dedication to Berkeley’s excellence contributed significantly to the event’s success.

The summit produced not only a series of innovative project ideas but also a shared understanding of the possibilities that arise from collaborative efforts at Berkeley. The university’s elite athletic programs, combined with the expertise of its data science faculty and proximity to the tech industry, create unique opportunities in the field of sports analytics.

As the summit concluded, the real work begins. Turning these ideas into actionable projects is essential for making a measurable impact on the experiences of Cal’s student-athletes, coaches, and the broader community. With the energy and engagement witnessed at the summit, UC Berkeley is poised to set a new standard for how universities can leverage the intersection of athletics and data science.