The 2025-26 Jepson Leadership Forum presents author and analyst Dean Oliver for his presentation on "The Push for Data-Driven Decisions in Sports." Currently a data scientist at ESPN, Dean pioneered the basketball analytics movement and is the author of Basketball on Paper and Basketball Beyond Paper. He incorporated analytics in his roles in the NBA front offices and as an assistant coach and helped create ESPN's sports analytics group in 2011.

The 2025-26 Jepson Leadership Forum addresses the significance of sports in American life. We will explore sports in the contexts of ethical and effective leadership, cultural significance, the impact of analytics, and recent changes to the guidelines governing college and professional sports. Speakers will discuss these topics from a variety of perspectives, drawing on their personal experiences, academic research, and industry expertise. November 17, 2025