About Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office
Welcome to Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office.
With the revenue sharing era of college sports upon us, Championship caliber-teams will be fueled by creative, competitive, collegiate front offices.
On Moneyballers, co-hosts Nick Siscoe & Luke Bogus (co-founders of Dropback) learn from the brightest minds and emerging innovators in the new college front office—with the goal of equipping our listeners with the tools & tips to give your teams a competitive edge.
Episode 12: Henry Davidson • Analytics Drives Decisions
In today's episode of Moneyballers, we're joined by Henry Davidson: the Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Data Analytics at Toledo!
We discuss his role in integrating data analytics into athletic decision-making--even moreso since initial recording due to staff changes! He emphasizes the importance of using data to inform decisions across the entire athletic departmnet: from ticket sales to, of course, student athlete compensation.
Davidson shares insights on collaborating with coaching staff, transitioning from a non-traditional background, and effectively communicating complex data to non-technical stakeholders. He also reflects on future projects and the importance of strategic thinking in the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Our Takeaways
Collaboration between data analysts and coaching staff enhances, not replaces, decision-making.
Effective communication of data is key for non-technical stakeholders.
Understanding the story behind the data helps in decision-making.
The future is for those who focus on refining data models and strategies into their decisions.
Staying calm and strategic is vital in the face of change.
Chapters
01:29 - Introduction and Role Explanation: Henry Davidson introduces himself and explains his role at Toledo, focusing on scholarships, revenue sharing, and data analytics.
03:31 - Early Wins and Data Centralization: Henry discusses initial projects like centralizing data and creating dashboards for better decision-making in ticket sales and revenue growth.
05:19 - Collaboration with Sports Personnel: The conversation shifts to how Henry collaborates with the general manager and coaches, using data to support player recruitment and compensation decisions.
09:16 - Transition from Previous Roles: Henry shares his journey from working in data analytics for hotels and restaurants to his current role, highlighting transferable skills and unique perspectives.
15:14 - Future Plans and Strategic Thinking: The discussion covers Henry's plans for the next six months, including refining models for the transfer portal and improving budget planning.
17:47 - Personal Insights and Final Thoughts: Henry talks about his personal interests and how he manages stress, concluding with advice on strategic planning in college sports.
29 Jan 2026
Episode 11: Parker Fleming • Roster Building = Art + Science
In this episode, Dropback welcome Parker Fleming: our new VP of Football Strategy at Dropback
He discusses the importance of structured thinking, the balance between qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the challenges of integrating data into decision-making processes in college football. Parker emphasizes the need for continuous learning and experimentation in analytics, as well as the significance of effective communication to gain buy-in from coaches and front offices. Analytics is a journey, not a destination!
Takeaways
• Structured thinking is crucial in analytics, not just the final numbers.
• Learning by doing is essential for success in sports analytics.
• Data should inform decisions, not replace human judgment.
• The balance between qualitative and quantitative analysis is vital in roster construction.
• Opportunity cost is a significant factor in roster building decisions.
• Analytics can enhance traditional scouting methods, not replace them.
Chapters
02:57 Parker's Path to Sports Analytics
06:01 Learning and Experimentation in Analytics
09:03 The Role of Analytics in Decision Making
12:10 Balancing Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
14:52 Overcoming Resistance to Data-Driven Decisions
17:54 The Importance of Communication in Analytics
9 Dec 2025
Episode 10: Jason Gandhi • Metrics Driving Decisions
Jason Gandhi, General Manager at Delaware, discusses his journey into college basketball management and emphasizes collaboration between coaching and management, especially within budget constraints in this interview.
15 Sept 2025
Episode 9: CJ Olson • Creative Capology
CJ Olson, Vanderbilt University's Director of Salary Cap Management, examines data analysis and creative problem-solving within college sports, emphasizing effective communication with coaches in this interview.
12 Aug 2025
Episode 8: Colton Korn • Relationships Still Matter
Colton Korn, Director of Player Personnel at Liberty University, discusses Liberty's roster management strategies in the new era of college football with Luke & the Moneyballers, highlighting that relationships still matter.
22 Jul 2025
Episode 7: Trey Neyer • Evaluations Over Emotions
Virginia Tech's Assistant Athletic Director of Player Personnel Trey Neyer explores data-driven player recruitment in college football's NIL era, emphasizing objective evaluations over emotional connections in this interview.
3 Jul 2025
Episode 6: Kelly Comarda • Here's How Business & CFB Intersect
Kelly Comarda, Tulane's Director of Roster Management, explores the intersection of business and college football, focusing on NIL strategies and competitive compensation for student-athletes in this interview.
23 Apr 2025
Episode 5: Kyle Pollock • Day in the Life as Associate GM
Kyle Pollock, the Associate GM for Personnel and Roster Management at Temple, joins today's episode of "Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office."Kyle shares insights into his career journey and the evolving landscape of college football recruitment. He discusses the importance of building relationships with high school coaches and trainers, the impact of NIL and player compensation on recruitment strategies, and the collaborative dynamics between the front office and coaching staff. Pollock emphasizes the need for 'player compensation models' to foster accountability and cultural fit in player recruitment--and some other great advice for aspiring GMs and his long-term career goals.
15 Apr 2025
Episode 4: Gaizka Crowley • Pre-House GM vs. Post-House GM
Gaizka Crowley, the General Manager at Arizona, joins "Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office" to discusses the evolution of the GM role in college football, particularly in light of the changes brought about by COVID-19 and the looming revenue-sharing era. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to the changing landscape of recruitment and roster construction, the impact of agents on the recruitment process, and the necessity of aligning financial decisions with team success. Crowley also shares insights for aspiring GMs, highlighting the importance of people management and being open to change in the industry.Our Takeaways:
Fundamentals of player evaluation remain constant, if not more important, in the rev-share era.
Managing & training your staff effectively is crucial for a successful program.
Off-field alignment between the head coach and GM is critical for on-field success.
Financial decisions must align with team goals, and acquiring players that fit your culture, scheme, city, and community.
8 Apr 2025
Episode 3: Ethan Young • Bridging the Data Gap, NFL to CFB
Today's episode of "Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office" features Ethan Young, discussing his journey in sports analytics, particularly his role as Director of Strategic Intelligence and later as Director of Player Personnel at UCLA.He shares insights on the transition from NFL to NCAA, the challenges posed by the introduction of NIL, and the evolving landscape of data and technology in college sports. Young emphasizes the importance of understanding the business aspect of college athletics and the need for effective organizational structures, including the role of general managers. He highlights the opportunities for competitive balance and the necessity for athletic departments to adapt to the changing environment.Our Biggest Takeaways:- Ethan Young was a pioneer in the role of Director of Strategic Intelligence in sports.- The transition from NFL to NCAA revealed significant differences in data availability and usage.- Data-driven decision-making is crucial for talent evaluation and recruitment in college football.- The role of general managers in college sports is still evolving and lacks a standardized definition.- Athletic departments should prioritize football to ensure financial sustainability for other sports.- There is a gap between current practices in college sports and the potential for data utilization.- Successful athletic departments will need to adapt their organizational structures to meet new challenges.
28 Mar 2025
Episode 2: Tyler Phillips • Stay Ahead with Elite Data
Today, we welcome Tyler Phillips to discuss the role of Pro Football Focus (PFF) in providing comprehensive football data and analysis, which is utilized by NFL and NCAA teams for various purposes including game planning, player evaluation, and roster building.
Luke & Tyler highlight the evolution of data usage in college football, the transition of NFL practices to the college level, and the importance of partnerships in enhancing the utility of data. Phillips emphasizes the significance of data-driven decision-making in modern football and how teams are increasingly adopting sophisticated analytics to gain a competitive edge.
Moneyballers dives into conversation with the brightest minds behind the emerging world of the College Front Office. Presented by Dropback
16 Dec 2024
Episode 1: Mit Winter • Creative Contract Construction
Welcome to the first season of Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office. Our first guest is none other... than Mit Winter.
If you have a Twitter account and follow NIL, then you know who Mit is. He is one of the most prolific voices in sports law, an attorney at Kennyhertz Perry Law, and Partner at Winter Sports Law. He collaborates with athletic programs across nearly every major conference to navigate this new era of college sports, and help them find competitive edges within the bounds of the ever-changing rules and regulations of the space.
Luke and Mit get into a wide range of conversation, from creative rev-share contract construction, to how schools are approaching athletic reputation within the guidelines of the settlement and NCAA’s NIL bylaws.
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Who has been a guest on Moneyballers: Inside the College Front Office
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jason Gandhi
CJ Olson
Colton Korn
Trey Neyer
Kelly Comarda
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
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Quality
19
Social presence
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YouTube
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Engagement
32
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