Sports Analytics · Data-Driven Writing

Ryan
J.
Dahnke

Sports analytics researcher and writer. I dig into the numbers behind the decisions — from NBA roster construction to NFL formation trends. Based in Chicago.

NBA NFL NCAA MLS Statistics Marketing
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Projects

Each of the articles below is my attempt at understanding a novel or interesting (at least to me) problem in sports. I won't claim they are unbiased — Trae Young's name comes up at highly disproportionate rates — but they are all fact-based and data-driven. These projects use 100% publicly-available data and thus may not be the most recent or best possible data for my analyses. Nonetheless, I try my hardest to never let data be more than an obstacle, and many of these projects were ultimately helped more than hindered by data restrictions. Enjoy!

NFLOct 2025
Shotgun at the Goal Line

Snap Decisions: The NFL's Love Affair with the Shotgun Formation at the Goal Line

Has the shotgun formation's dominance gone too far? Why do NFL teams line up in shotgun at the goal line?

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MLSSep 2025
MLS Sponsorships

Pitch Decks: Finding Gaps in the MLS Sponsorship Landscape

Why do some sports sponsorships feel natural and others look weird?

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NFLApr 2025
Icing the Kicker

Breaking the Ice: Investigating How Timeouts Shape Game-Winning Kicks in the NFL

Does icing the kicker actually work?

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NBAJun 2024
Signature Shoe

Shoe Dunnit: The Case of the Signature Shoe

The 26 signature NBA athletes are not the 26 best players. Why? How do brands approach the signature shoe market differently?

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NBAMay 2023
NBA Three Point Evolution

The NBA's Shooting Evolution: the Rise of the Three

Why do NBA teams value the deep ball? How have players changed their shot diets since the early 2000s?

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NCAAJan 2023
College Football Network

College Football's Network & its Implications on Realignment

How does schedule realignment affect College Football Playoff outcomes?

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NBADec 2022
Predicting Fouls

SHAP Predictions for Fouls in the NBA

What factors lead to higher foul rates throughout an NBA game?

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NBANov 2021
NBA Skill Valuation

Building a Team (1/3): the NBA's Skill Valuation puzzle

How much do teams pay for certain skills and how has that changed over time?

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NBANov 2021
NBA Skill Valuation by Team

Building a Team (2/3): NBA Skill Valuation by Organization

How do different teams approach team building and split their limited cap space?

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NBANov 2021
NBA Skill Valuation by Position

Building a Team (3/3): NBA Skill Valuation by Position

How does skill valuation differ across positions?

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Stay in the Loop

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About

Ryan Dahnke

Hi — I'm Ryan, a 2023 Notre Dame grad, Atlanta Hawks fan, Agatha Christie reader, pizza enjoyer, and Chicago transplant.

I'm passionate about storytelling and the use — and misuse — of statistics in traditionally analytics-free places: media, marketing, and professional sports teams' decision-making.

Work Experience

OnDean

Senior Strategic Analyst — Chicago, IL · Jan 2026 – Present

OrangeCat Racing

Product Manager — Chicago, IL · Jan 2026 – Present

McKinsey & Company

Business Analyst — Chicago, IL · Oct 2023 – Jul 2025

McLaren Racing

Aero Analytics Intern — Woking, England · Jan–May 2022

New York Mets

Business Intelligence Intern — New York, NY · Summer 2021

Vroom

Data Science Intern — New York, NY · Summer 2020

Education

BBA, Business Analytics — Magna Cum Laude

University of Notre Dame · May 2023

Leadership

Vice President

Notre Dame Sports Analytics Club · 2022–2023

LinkedIn