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Sports Analytics Program Connects Students with Hartwick Athletics

Hartwick College students partnered with athletics teams throughout the 2025-26 academic year as part of the first year of the Sports Analytics Partnership Program led by Kristin Jones, professor of economics.

Designed to combine data analysis with hands-on collaboration, the program paired students with coaches and teams to research questions using Hartwick athletics data.

The program featured a range of student-led research projects completed in collaboration with Hartwick athletics teams and coaches. Ashley Ament ’27 and Natalie O’Malley ’27 partnered with men’s basketball coach Brad Cooper and assistant coach Jared Benson on “An Analysis of Three Point Attempts, Guarded vs. Unguarded Shots, and Turnovers.”

Joe Algieri ’27 worked with softball coach Brittany Stroop and assistant coach Nic Kasch on “How Important is the First Batter?” Jackson Frame ’26 collaborated with women’s basketball coach Sarah Lombard and assistant coach Carolee Pierce on “Deep Paint Touches: Shot Success, Turnovers, and Fouls.” Mallory Muglio ’26 and Kamogelo de Almeida ’28 partnered with football coach Matt Rogers and assistant coach Mark Theophel on “Hartwick Football Recruiting: What Matters?”

According to Jones, the idea for the program came after learning about a similar model at another institution. “Because we have such a collaborative athletics department here at Hartwick, I knew we could do something similar,” Jones said.

Hartwick College Kristin Jones

“This program helps students develop their skills in data analytics but also in communication and professionalism.”

Kristin Jones

Professor of Economics

Jones described the program’s first year as a success and said plans are already in place to continue the initiative annually. “Everyone involved learned a lot,” Jones said. “It was a lot of fun to work with this group of students and coaches. I’m excited for next year.”

O’Malley, a midfielder for the field hockey team, and Ament, a member of the women’s lacrosse team, worked together to analyze men’s basketball shooting and turnover data. O’Malley explained that the experience is closely aligned with her career goals in sports analytics.

“This research was extremely beneficial for me because it allowed me to better understand that you can draw so many conclusions from a set of data,” O’Malley said. “It also helped me work on my professionalism and presentation skills.”

O’Malley also said the project strengthened teamwork. “Ashley and I worked well together,” O’Malley said. “We taught each other a lot throughout the process and it definitely helped us with our teamwork skills.”

Cooper emphasized the partnership benefits both students and athletics programs.

He added that the students’ research provided useful insights for end-of-season program analysis and future planning.

Hartwick College Coach Brad Cooper

“A class like Kristin’s that works directly with college coaches and programs is a benefit to the College and our new sport management major.”

Brad Cooper

Men’s Basketball Coach

May 12, 2026
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