UNC Charlotte to offer sports analytics degree starting this fall

• "Charlotte's will be the only one focused on human performance," Thomas said in a statement.
• Other universities offering sports analytics programs are Rice, Akron, Syracuse and California Baptist.

The big picture: Analytics is a key component in the modern era of sports at every level as teams look for ways to gain a competitive edge, but it's more than the product on the field.

• Sports analytics spans every aspect of an organization or program, from the front office to the athletic training room.

Zoom in: For instance, Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC owner David Tepper put a greater emphasis on data analytics when he bought the Panthers in 2018 and made it a priority with Charlotte FC since the club's inception in 2019.

What to expect: Students will work on their technical skills, including coding, and they'll also use artificial intelligence, according to the school. Students can opt to intern with the university's 19 NCAA Division I teams for credit hours.

• Students will also have opportunities to learn from North Carolina's professional sports teams.

• A student's trajectory after they earn their degree ranges from that of a sports analyst to sports medicine, including physical therapy, athletic training and strength and conditioning, according to the university.

Context: Thomas and 1994 Charlotte alum John Tobias will co-direct Charlotte's new program, which is a collaboration between the university's School of Data Science and College of Health and Human Services.

• Thomas works in the College of Health and Human Services' Department of Applied Physiology, Health, and Clinical Sciences.
• Tobias is a sports analytics lecturer at the university's School of Data Science. He's also a senior analytical statistician with ESPN.