Data Science /engineering/ en Game plan /engineering/game-plan <span>Game plan</span> <span><span>Michelle Wiese</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-06-06T11:37:20-06:00" title="Friday, June 6, 2025 - 11:37">Fri, 06/06/2025 - 11:37</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/engineering/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-05/Scott%20Flaska_Broncos_05.jpg?h=c8dce03d&amp;itok=7no7k-2n" width="1200" height="800" alt="Scott Flaska at the Denver Broncos stadium"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/engineering/taxonomy/term/64"> Alumni </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/engineering/taxonomy/term/2283" hreflang="en">Data Science</a> <a href="/engineering/taxonomy/term/2240" hreflang="en">Mechanical Engineering</a> </div> <a href="/engineering/alexander-servantez">Alexander Servantez</a> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div class="feature-layout-callout feature-layout-callout-xlarge"><div class="ucb-callout-content"><p class="text-align-center hero"><strong>鈥淚 thought it was a</strong><span><strong> one-in-a-million opportunity,&nbsp;</strong></span><strong>and I decided&nbsp;</strong><br><strong>to give it a shot.鈥�</strong></p></div></div><p class="lead"><strong>Interdisciplinary mechanical engineering education helps alum score a job with the Broncos</strong></p><p><strong>Scott Flaska</strong> (MechEngr鈥�14) is one of the data masterminds behind Colorado鈥檚 favorite sports team.</p><p>As the director of football analytics for the Denver Broncos, Flaska鈥檚 job is to bridge the gap between data science and football operations. He leads a team of technology and research specialists that create statistical models to turn crucial decisions into game-winning results.</p><a href="/engineering/media/15169" rel="nofollow"> <div class="align-right image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/engineering/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-05/Scott%20Flask_Broncos_03.jpg?itok=eW9BK-DB" width="750" height="1156" alt="Scott Flaska at the Denver Broncos stadium"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p class="text-align-center small-text">Scott Flaska (MechEngr鈥�14) (Photo: Jesse Petersen/猫咪社区)</p> </span> </div> </a><p>鈥淲e have really smart and talented people in the building,鈥� said Flaska. 鈥淐oaches who are digging into the game plan, and scouts who are analyzing opponents鈥� strengths and weaknesses each week. Our goal is to use analytics to expedite those processes.鈥�</p><p>According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, data science is among the fastest growing occupations, with a 36% increase projected over the next decade. Flaska said the professional sports ecosystem is fully embracing this change right before our eyes.</p><p>鈥淲e鈥檙e flooded with data now,鈥� Flaska said. 鈥淰endors and services like Pro Football&nbsp;Focus or Next Gen Stats are tracking players all over the field with chips in their shoulder pads. We collect all that data and turn those metrics into useful tools for player evaluation, scouting, in-game decision-making, and even player health and safety.鈥�</p><p>Flaska鈥檚 interest in data analysis started at 猫咪社区. Some of his early undergraduate courses and internships helped him realize just how powerful analytics can be when trying to make evidence-based decisions.</p><p>He also loves sports and grew up playing football. Every statistical model on the planet would say Flaska and the Broncos were a perfect match.</p><p>But how do you go from building drill-powered bicycles with your bare hands in a senior design course, to coding digital tools for an NFL team? According to Flaska, there was a little luck involved.</p><p>鈥淎fter I graduated, I began working with one of the big aerospace companies right away. I was considering going back to get my master鈥檚 degree when I saw a job posting for a data analyst with the Broncos,鈥� Flaska said. 鈥淚 thought it was a one-in-a-million opportunity, and I decided to give it a shot.鈥�</p><p>Using some fantasy football projection models he had been building for fun, Flaska reached out to the hiring manager and showcased&nbsp;his work. To his surprise, he got an interview and was courted through a memorable&nbsp;hiring process.</p><p>鈥淔or the final round, I had to put together a project and present it in front of the entire front office,鈥� said Flaska. 鈥淚 remember walking in and seeing John Elway, someone I grew up idolizing as a kid.</p><p>鈥淚t was an awesome experience, and I was over-the-moon elated when I got the job.鈥�</p><p>Flaska said CU鈥檚 creative and interdisciplinary mechanical engineering curriculum helped&nbsp;<br>him develop a diverse skill set and a knack&nbsp;for design.</p><p>But there was one other thing that really&nbsp;stuck with him: An environment of&nbsp;friendly competition.</p><p>鈥淲e were always competing in our coursework. Bidding and competing for senior design projects. It鈥檚 super important because it鈥檚 something that can translate to other industries,鈥� Flaska said. 鈥淓ven right now, I am constantly looking for an edge. I want to be better than other data analysts for other&nbsp;teams across the league. It鈥檚 stressful&nbsp;to compete, but it was a great thing about&nbsp;the department.鈥�</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Scott Flaska (MechEngr鈥�14) helps bridge the gap between data science and football operations for the Denver Broncos.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/engineering/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-05/Scott%20Flaska_01.jpg?itok=92rx8Df8" width="1500" height="459" alt="Scott Flaska at the Denver Broncos stadium"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:37:20 +0000 Michelle Wiese 7861 at /engineering