Sports Media Report
DDSports Inc. (ShotTracker), a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides statistics and analytics with sub-second latency, today announced that former Big Ten Conference Commissioner Jim Delany has joined the company in the newly-created role of special advisor on strategy and partnerships. Delany oversaw unprecedented growth for the Big Ten during his tenure, which ended upon his retirement on January 1, 2020.
“We welcome Jim Delany’s experience and his insight into ShotTracker,” said ShotTracker CEO Bill Moses. “His business acumen, his understanding of the opportunities in the college space with regard to technology and infrastructure, and his visionary planning will be invaluable to us as we accelerate implementation on a wide scale in the coming months, and continue to grow relationships on broadcast integration.”
“Jim Delany has always been a big thinker who gets things done, and that thought process will be welcomed and crucial for us as we expand and grow,” said ShotTracker Co-Founder and President Davyeon Ross. “He has always been a fervent supporter of our work, and it is a pleasure to have him officially part of our team now.”
“Sub second latency, seamless broadcast integration and greater content options for millions of fans is going to be essential for any technology that wants to engage as a business these days, and ShotTracker has all of that and more,” Delany said. “This is a platform that has been built for where college sports is heading in the coming years, both from a team analytics side and from a commercial side, and I am excited to be able to help participate in the expansion of the business.”
Delany served as Commissioner of the Big Ten from 1989 until 2020 and was an innovator during his tenure, with accomplishments that included: The creation of college football replay, overseeing leadership on conference expansion in moving the Big Ten from 10 to 14 members, and the creation of the first college sports network. He also led the growth of distributable revenue to conference members from $20 to $800 million, and was an aggressive supporter of gender equity.
ShotTracker, whose recent $13 million funding round includes Evertz Technologies, Verizon Ventures and Hearst Ventures, currently brings elite-level, real-time analytics to the court. The company’s patented technology tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and is also integrated with Evertz’s cloud-based live production solutions. The real-time data can be used to automate camera productions from remote locations and can be licensed by media and sports data companies and will be enhanced by all the innovation Verizon is bringing through their cutting-edge work in 5G.
