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For Evan Stackpole ‘14, his first full season with the Houston Astros is one that he will never forget. In his role as the Astros' Video Coordinator and Analyst, Stackpole was able to experience the wild ride to the playoffs alongside the team.
"Making the playoffs this past October was surreal," Stackpole said. I will always remember the players celebrating their playoff berth in Phoenix, winning the Wild Card game in New York, and the emotional and organizational roller coaster that was the last few weeks of the season."
As Video Coordinator and Analyst, Stackpole travels with the team throughout the season and is responsible for assisting the players, coaches, and front office staff with any video requests they may have. In the offseason, his responsibilities shift to assisting the front office with additional projects.
Stackpole acknowledges that his experience at Rice helped him prepare for his role with the Astros. A double major in Statistics and Sport Management, Stackpole held internships with the Astros, Tri-Star Productions, and Rice baseball, performing various functions, including video and statistical analysis. He cites his time with Rice Baseball as a freshman, specifically, as having helped him in his current position.
“During my freshman year, Dr. Disch helped me get a job with the Rice baseball team where I was in charge of running their Dartfish video software,” Stackpole said. “This job helped me get my first experience with video, and it helped me land my current job with the Astros.”
Looking ahead to next year, Stackpole and the Astros hope to build on this past season's success. For the team, that means a deeper run in the playoffs. For Stackpole, that means another year in a job he enjoys immensely.
Travis Stockbridge, a senior from Burlington, Illinois, is double-majoring in Sport Management and Statistics.