AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
So … KPI Sports has become something. I’m proud and honored that there are several loyal readers and followers who have cared. Thank you to those who have read, those who have sorted through rankings data, and also to the reporters who have both referenced and written about KPI. Thank you to the many who have helped promote KPI and to those who have recognized the information as legitimate.
Now, nearly two years into the public version of KPI, it’s time to seek help. I’m working to assemble a small team of people with backgrounds in computer programming, statistics, sports analytics, and/or schedule optimizations. This group may be relatively small. Both the stray ideas in my head and the data sitting in Excel not yet public are numerous. This could be a lot of fun.
Since KPI went public in August 2013, the information has been published and/or referenced by such news organizations as Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, the Chicago Tribune, ESPN.com, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, the Washington Post, and several others. In March of this year, Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press profiled KPI Sports and also wondered what the role of the KPI could be moving forward. Zach Schonbrun of the New York Times also profiled KPI Sports and how it has helped the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee. KPI data was among the most accurate in projecting the NCAA Tournament Field of 68 teams, along with the teams’ seeding. The increased traffic at KPISports.net in March as a result was incredible. The messages, both verbal and via text, through the men’s basketball postseason was more than I deserve.
Admittedly, I’ve mostly been a one-man operation and there is only so much that can be done under those terms. In order to grow KPI Sports moving forward, a few things need to happen. For starters, I need to further automate the data entry. This will not only allow for quicker and more timely updates to data, but also allow for significant expansion to the sports covered by the rankings. Additionally, I need assistance in migrating the data, information, and algorithms from Microsoft Excel to something that can calculate the rankings quicker and be transposed for consumption.
The KPI algorithm is useful beyond FBS college football and Division-I men’s basketball. I’ve already begun moving into FCS college football and Division-I women’s basketball. Automating data and cleaning up the process allows for movement into volleyball, baseball, softball, and many other college sports at multiple levels. Applying the rankings at the high school level may also be forthcoming. Schedule creation and optimization is coming. I’m excited.
All that said, I need your help. I’m looking for people willing to jump on board the KPI Project, people looking to take a chance on a side project that could be something special. I’m seeking people with a high-level computer background. An interest in sports is preferred.
If interested in the KPI Project, e-mail me at kpauga@gmail.com.