Bringing an Athlete's Perspective to Analytics: Brendan Lowery '22

For Brendan Lowery '22, numbers have always been part of the game. As a Division I baseball player, Lowery came to Bucknell to pursue both competitive athletics and rigorous academics. When the Freeman College of Management launched its business analytics major during his first year, he knew he had found the perfect fit. "I knew I eventually wanted to work in sports analytics," he says. As a commercial senior analyst at FanDuel, Lowery has built a career that combines data, business and athletics. 

What initially drew you to Bucknell?

I always knew I wanted to play baseball in college. Growing up, baseball was my entire life. I wanted to make it to the pros, but when I realized that wasn't going to happen, I knew I wanted to stay connected to sports in some way, potentially through sports analytics. Bucknell stood out because it offered the balance I was looking for — a strong academic experience combined with Division I athletics. From the beginning of the recruiting process, Bucknell was at the top of my list. Once I visited campus and met the coaches, I knew it was the right fit for me.

How did you decide to major in business analytics?

It was actually perfect timing. I came into Bucknell in the Freeman College of Management, and my class was the first class to have the opportunity to pursue a business analytics major. It was just starting. When I heard that it was being introduced, I immediately thought, "That is what I want to do." It combined everything I was interested in, sports, numbers and business problem-solving.

How did your Bucknell experience prepare you for your career?

The biggest thing Bucknell taught me was to think through problems. I learned how to use tools like Excel, Python, SQL and Tableau, but I also learned how to communicate results and understand what stakeholders actually need. People don't necessarily want to know every step you took to get an answer. They want to understand what the answer means and what actions they should take. The combination of technical skills and communication skills has been really valuable.

What does your role at FanDuel look like?

I'm a commercial senior analyst on the sportsbook team. A big part of my role is forecasting — looking at how many new customers we expect to acquire and breaking that down by day, state and sport. I also analyze current customers and major spotting events. We look at performance, customer behavior and what we can learn from the data.

Some people have preconceived notions about sports betting companies. What's something you wish people better understood about your work?

Responsible gaming is a big part of our business. We have teams dedicated to helping customers gamble responsibly, and the platform includes tools that let users set spending limits or exclude themselves if they need a break. We can also identify patterns suggesting someone might be chasing losses and connect them with resources. At the end of the day, people will bet on sports, and we want to provide a regulated environment that emphasizes responsible play.

How has your experience as a baseball player influenced the way you approach analytics?

Baseball is a very analytical sport. Even before I knew I wanted to work in analytics, I was always interested in statistics and how numbers could tell a bigger story. Being comfortable with data and understanding sports have been an advantage. When I'm forecasting around an event, understanding the sport itself helps me ask better questions.

What advice would you give Bucknell students?

At Bucknell, take advantage of the opportunity to explore different areas. The Freeman College of Management gives students exposure to many different paths, and being open to those experiences is important. For student-athletes, especially, remember that you're a student first. Bucknell does a great job emphasizing that balance, and learning how to manage time is a skill set that will serve you well in your career.