Justin Wolin ‘15 was recently hired as the VP of Strategy & Analytics by Houston Dynamo Football Club. Prior to this role, Wolin held senior analyst positions with both the Houston Astros and also Major League Baseball in its Business Strategy & Analytics and Club Business Operations & Strategy departments.
Wolin first got his start by completing various internships as an undergraduate at Rice in both the sport industry and consulting, some of which being with the Houston Rockets, Astros, Accenture, and Major League Baseball. Wolin double-majored in Sport Management and Economics while also minoring in Business.
“The best way to learn is to see it in action,” said Wolin. “Finding opportunities to volunteer or intern with organizations is extremely valuable. You don’t see what the office culture or work environment is like until you’re there in the middle of the season.”
Through these internships, he was able to discover his interest in analytics and strategy within the sport industry. This newfound love led him to join the Astros after graduation and then Major League Baseball a few years later.
“When I interned in 2013, the team was in the middle of losing over 100 games,” said Wolin. “Right when I joined, they began to see more success and eventually won the World Series. It was a fun time since we were all learning how to handle the huge shift and manage the increasing demand.”
After his time with the Astros, he spent a few years with Major League Baseball in their growing department of Club Business Operations & Strategy, where he garnered the tools to help manage teams of all market sizes within the industry.
“I really missed being on the team side,” said Wolin. “When you’re on the team side, you see the direct relationship between the fans and the team, and you see the impact you have on the city every day.”
Therefore, when he learned about the opportunity with the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash, he saw it as a chance to join an organization that was headed in a promising direction, considering their new ownership and leadership teams as well as the promising product on the field. It made him excited about the opportunity to contribute to that growth through market presence, fan awareness, and community impact.
"Analytics and Strategy is a growing sector within sports," said Wolin. "Prioritize problem-solving: Can you effectively answer a question and communicate it in a way that drives action? Push yourself to be in those situations."
Wolin also discussed the trust that Rice Sport Management places in its students to support their path in finding opportunities that contribute to their growth. He mentioned being put in contact with the Houston Texans even before the first day of classes his freshman year.
Sergio Rojas, a junior from Houston, Texas, is double-majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance and also Sport Management with a concentration in Leadership.