2026 ICM Sports Analytics Panel

Date: Saturday, July 25th 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Benjamin Franklin Stage | Hall E

From the dugout to the sidelines, numbers are changing the way games are played, coached, and won. This panel brings together leading analytics experts from Philadelphia’s professional sports teams to explore how mathematics and data drive decision-making across baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.

Panelists will discuss how statistical analysis shapes player evaluation, game strategy, and long-term organizational planning—translating complex math into competitive advantage on the field. Whether it’s optimizing lineups, forecasting performance, or finding hidden value in data, this conversation will reveal how math has become an essential tool in sports.

On July 26, there will also be a special evening at the Philadelphia Phillies ballgame including a meet and greet with R&D staff at the park. Learn more by clicking below

Panelists:

Alex Nakahara
Senior Director of R&D
Philadelphia Phillies

Alex Nakahara is the Senior Director of Baseball Research & Development at the Philadelphia Phillies, where he oversees the data science and software engineering groups in Baseball Operations at the Phillies. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from MIT in aeronautics and astronautics.

 

Ian Anderson
Director of Strategy & Analytics
Philadelphia Flyers 

Ian Anderson currently serves as the Director of Strategy and Analytics for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.  Ian has been with the Flyers for the last 11 years, starting as the sole analytics member to a team of six.  Ian and his team contribute across all facets of hockey operations including amateur scouting, pro scouting, roster management, salary cap management, tactical strategy, and player development.

 

Fan-Hal Koung
Assistant General Manager
Philadelphia 76ers

Fan-Hal Koung is the Assistant General Manager at the Philadelphia 76ers, where he leads the integration of advanced analytics into roster construction and strategic planning. 

 

Addison Hunsicker
Senior Manager Soccer Analytics
Philadelphia Union

Addison Hunsicker is the Senior Manager of Soccer Analytics at the Philadelphia Union, currently in his seventh season with the club, and a 2020 graduate of Temple University with a degree in Statistical Science and Data Analytics. At the Union, he is involved in opponent scouting, post-match reporting, player recruitment, and salary cap analysis while overseeing the club's cloud-based data architecture development

 

James Gilman
Senior Director of Football Research and Strategy
Philadelphia Eagles

James Gilman, who is entering his eighth year with the Philadelphia Eagles, was promoted to Senior Director of Football Research and Strategy in 2025. Since joining the analytics team within the football operations department, Gilman has focused on quantitative research and providing statistical insight. Gilman grew up in Raleigh, NC, and attended North Carolina State, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in statistics.

 

Moderator:

Jordan Ellenberg
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jordan Ellenberg is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking and Shape.

 

Attend a Special Event with the Phillies

Attend a Special Event at the Stadium for a Phillies Game Night

Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Game + Meet and Greet with R&D Staff

Learn from Research & Development leaders from the Phillies during a moderated question-and-answer session in the Media Room at Citizens Bank Park. 

Speakers Include:

  • Alex Nakahara, Senior Director, Baseball R&D
  • Mike Hirsch, Senior Software Engineer
  • Kyle Lennon, Manager, Foundational Research

Event Details

Sunday, July 26, 2026
Citizens Bank Park
1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA 19148

  • 5:30 PM Check-in
  • 5:45 PM Panel Discussion
  • 7:20 PM Baseball Game: Phillies Vs. New York Yankees

Note: The event is limited to 60 attendees. Online purchases are restricted to the tri-state area (PA, NJ, DE, and NY). Out-of-area attendees should call the Sales Office at 215-463-1000, Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET, to purchase tickets.

Purchase Tickets Here. 

Group tickets are reserved to section 432