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Sterling Xie

Sterling Xie

Certified

Research Analyst

Pro Football Network | Connecticut

Technologies

Quantitative wordsmith, translating complex concepts into elegant insights.

My Work

Take a look at my latest work.

DataLab

Predicting Titanic Survival Rate in R

DataLab

Predicting 2025 NFL Draft Ranges in R

DataLab

SQL Project: Sleep Health and Lifestyle

DataLab

Predicting Titanic Survival Rate in R

My Certifications

These are the industry credentials that I’ve earned.

Data Analyst

Data Analyst

SQL Associate

SQL Associate

Data Analyst Associate

Data Analyst Associate

DataCamp Course Completion

Take a look at all the courses I’ve completed on DataCamp.

Courses

Introduction to SQL
Intermediate SQL
Introduction to R
Joining Data in SQL

My Work Experience

Where I've interned and worked during my career.

Pro Football Network | Sep 2024 - Present

Research Analyst

- Built statistical models to rank team offensive and defensive units along with individual position groups for NFL and College Football. Crafted how fan-facing metrics dashboards would look in presentations to company executives. Maintained web tools that incorporated football metrics, including Mock Draft Simulators and Playoff Predictors. Wrote articles and stat packets to create differentiating content off these models to elevate Pro Football and Sports Network's analytical offerings. - Presented PFSN's NFL and College Football models and articles to potential vendors as recruitment tools for research services during football season. Built relationships with managing editors and writers at 30+ team-specific fan sites that incorporated PFSN's metrics into their content. Spread company's visibility and increased volume of backlinks to the site. - Wrote NFL and NBA analysis articles in Wordpress (3-5 per week in-season) focusing on storytelling through statistics and advanced metrics. Topics included weekly and season analytical recaps, event preview material and data-driven fantasy and betting recommendations.
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ESPN | Sep 2018 - Sep 2024

Senior Researcher

- Leveraged knowledge of analytics and programming language R to deliver front-facing projection outputs for Basketball and Football Power Index metrics (BPI and FPI). Created predictive models in R and presented findings for 2 BPI and FPI projects: 1 around betting projections and 1 around Wide Receiver Score. - Led content production, editing and coordination with external clients on ESPN Stats & Info's NFL leadership team. With external clients, I strategized short- and long-term content priorities, reviewed and critiqued on-air elements, and fulfilled weekly projects for show groups and digital leaders. Internally, I coached teammates on NFL tasks, supported teammates working on NFL content throughout the week and served as the SIG liaison for the Sports Analytics team and SIG Español team. - Organized quarterly content discussions and priorities on game event crews, specifically with Monday Night Football and NBA. Demonstrated adaptability and focus under pressure in time-intensive situations by generating content for on-air graphics and verbal reads. Developed relationships with event graphics producers and discussed ways to improve ROI potential and pre-game workflows. Coached SIG teammates on best content practices and ways to develop relationships with the event group, including on-air talent. - Built relationships and gained trust with 100+ producers, directors and talent on studio shows to deliver compelling studio treatments. Showcased best research notes from fellow researchers and enhanced the information quality of the show. Primary researcher for both 11 PM SportsCenter and NFL Live for 2+ years each. Coached teammates on how to ingratiate themselves to new show groups, both through direct observation and feedback to show assists. - Trained 20+ new Stats & Info hires on fundamentals of research - tools usage, show research, writing, show group relations, database querying and content philosophy. Led training series classes on Creative Studio Treatments, Pitching Ideas in Show Meetings and Generating Content Via Excel.

ESPN | May 2016 - Sep 2018

Stats Analyst II

- Leveraged SQL skills for ETL processes that maintained the company's data warehouses for college football, men's college basketball and women's college basketball. Implemented quality checks for weekly in-season data uploads and managed data security integrity for clients outside of Stats & Analysis who needed access to specific elements of the data warehouses. - Produced next level analysis that went beyond the boxscore and explained why a given team or player performed the way they did during games. Worked with production research to help explain and pitch treatments to show producers and talent.

Football Outsiders | Jun 2015 - Jun 2016

Staff Writer

- Wrote 1-2 articles per week analyzing and/or previewing games and interpreting in-house statistical models such as DVOA and DYAR - Pitched and wrote ESPN Insider article ideas incorporating FO's signature stats to contextualize timely storylines on a mainstream platform - Wrote book chapters, player comments and strategic tendencies to the Football Outsiders Almanac annual preview book in 2015 and 2016 - Aided in various offseason data collection projects, including updating FO's Master Database, Edge Rushers database and organizing team and player tables for Football Outsiders Almanac

My Education

Take a look at my formal education

Master of Science - MS, Data AnalyticsBrandeis University - Graduate Professional Studies | 2023
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), LiteratureHamilton College | 2016

About Me

Sterling Xie

With over 9 years of professional experience, my core skills lie in sports content research and data analysis. Delivering data-driven insights is my career passion, as I love the challenge of impacting business by answering the question of "so what?"

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