Cole Conley

Class of 2014

Fascinated by baseball and basketball analysis, Cole is devoted to using statistical modeling to help professional sports teams make better strategic decisions. 

Cole recently received his Masters in statistics from North Carolina State University, he is now working as a Coordinator: Trackman with USA Baseball in Durham, NC. During his time at Emory & Henry, he majored in economics. To him, the most attractive component of economics was the way it forced him to think about opportunity cost and the various cause–and–effect mechanisms that are applicable to everyday life. His profound interest in everyday economics drew him to pursue a graduate degree in statistics, which uses similar models and logic to make optimal decisions. Additionally, his love of sports and sports analysis fueled his devotion to pursuing a career in the sports industry. Cole remembers his first time watching the film and reading Michael Lewis’ Moneyball and seeing statistical analysis applied to baseball. Since then, he has attended several sports analytics conferences and spoken with analysts from teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Indians, San Antonio Spurs, and the Atlanta Falcons. Cole wants to use his skills to help teams make better decisions, whether it’s in–game strategy, prospect evaluation, or marketing analytics. During what little free time he has, Cole enjoys playing pickup basketball, attending bible study, and going to as many NC State home games as possible.

Q: Was Emory & Henry your first choice of colleges? If not, what made you stay here? If so, explain why Emory & Henry seemed special enough to attend.
A: 
I had always wanted to go to Duke University, but I didn’t get in. I knew I didn’t want to go to a school of 20,000, and Emory & Henry was my most affordable option. Looking back, it’s easy to see that I was meant to go to Emory & Henry. The professors took an interest in me personally, and the friends I made will be friends for life. That’s exactly what you’re looking for in a college experience.

Major(s):

Economics 

Hometown:

Floyd, VA

Location:

Durham, NC