Roderick Macdonald

Outline: Roderick Macdonald – Ideal Candidate for a Sports Analyst Role

1. Professional Summary

• Experienced Educator, Coach, and Data Analyst with a proven ability to translate performance data into actionable insights for athletes and teams.
• Over a decade of leadership in both academic and sporting environments, combining technical expertise with real-world coaching at national and international levels.
• Adept at using data-driven decision-making to improve athletic performance, talent identification, and team strategy.

2. Sporting and Coaching Background

• Director of Rowing, St John’s College (Johannesburg) – Oversaw the entire rowing programme, from athlete development to competition strategy.
• International Experience: Competed and coached at World Rowing Championships, providing first-hand understanding of elite performance environments.
• Proven track record in:
  
  • Performance tracking and biomechanical data analysis (telemetry, split times, stroke rate, boat speed).
  • Talent identification through physiological, technical, and psychological profiling.
  • Designing training periodisation models aligned with data trends and athlete readiness.
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• Deep understanding of high-performance systems and athlete management, from grassroots to elite competition.

3. Data Analytics and Technical Expertise

• Postgraduate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics – University of Texas (Austin) / Great Learning.
• Skilled in:
  
  • Python, R, and Pandas for performance modelling and statistical analysis.
  • Machine Learning (predictive modelling, regression, clustering, SHAP interpretability).
  • Dashboards and Visualisation: Plotly Dash, Power BI, Excel, Google Sheets, and Tableau for real-time analytics and reporting.
  • Applied Projects: Built predictive models for performance forecasting, regression analysis for ergometer outputs, and visual performance dashboards for rowing telemetry.
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• Strong ability to translate complex data into accessible insights for coaches, athletes, and management.

4. Analytical Mindset and Interdisciplinary Perspective

• Blends a deep understanding of human performance with quantitative analysis.
• Experienced in applying data science to coaching — identifying trends, optimizing technique, and improving training efficiency.
• Excellent communicator capable of bridging the gap between technical analysts and coaching staff.
• Adept at creating actionable reports and strategic insights to drive competitive advantage.

I have spent my career at the intersection of sport, education, and data analytics. My background as both a high-performance coach and educator has shaped how I approach analysis — combining deep human understanding with data-driven insight.

As Director of Rowing at St John’s College, I’ve led athletes and coaches to success at national and international level, including multiple appearances at the World Rowing Championships. These experiences have given me a detailed understanding of elite performance, biomechanics, and the psychological and tactical elements that underpin sporting success.

Alongside this, I hold a Postgraduate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from the University of Texas (Austin). I use tools like Python, R, and machine learning models to uncover performance patterns, predict outcomes, and develop athlete-specific feedback systems. I’ve built dashboards and analytical frameworks that turn complex data — such as telemetry, ergometer metrics, and physiological trends — into clear, actionable insights for coaches and athletes.

I thrive on finding the story behind the numbers — using analytics to make sport smarter, more efficient, and more human. My goal is to bridge the gap between coaching intuition and data science, helping teams and organisations achieve measurable, evidence-based improvement.

Postgraduate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics

The University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business / Great Learning

• Focus areas: Predictive Modelling, Machine Learning, Data Visualization, and Business Intelligence
• Applied analytics to real-world datasets, including sports performance and educational outcomes

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Senior Phase and FET)

Bachelor of Science (Physical Sciences)

Core focus on Biochemistry and Human Kinetics 

• Built a strong foundation in scientific analysis, experimentation, and critical problem-solving

Additional Professional Development

• Advanced training in Python, R, SQL, and Power BI
• Ongoing coursework in Sports Performance Analytics, Machine Learning in Sport, and Data-Driven Coaching
• Regular contributor and participant in MIT–ISASA Science & Mathematics Programme and IBSC Global Conferences