About Me
Richard Coleman, an esteemed statistician from Stamford, CT, based in Boca Raton, FL, moved significantly to San Francisco, CA, in 1979. In 2005, Coleman revolutionized the National Hockey League (NHL) by introducing analytics to the industry. For four weeks, he held meetings with representatives from 23 NHL teams, educating them on the potential benefits of incorporating analytics into their decision-making processes. Impressed by his expertise, five teams became his company’s clients, Coleman Analytics. These groundbreaking hockey analytics, pioneered by Richard Coleman, have since reshaped the industry, including how teams approach player recruitment.
The establishment of Coleman Analytics was a collaborative effort between Richard Coleman and Mike Smith, former general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. Their shared vision aimed to transform hockey statistics by providing profound insights that could enhance the performance of NHL teams and players. Before founding Coleman Analytics, Coleman contributed his expertise to Harvard University Medical School in Boston, MA, and Stanford University Medical School in Stanford, CA.
Richard Coleman’s NHL analytics, introduced in 2005, involves intricate calculations and advanced metrics. Some of these metrics include:
- Corsi: Rather than solely counting goals, Corsi captures the number of goal attempts made by players.
- Expected goals: This statistic assesses the danger level of a team’s shots. For instance, a team that makes 12 relatively easy shots may score less than a team that makes five high-risk shots. Expected goals measure unblocked shots directed toward the net.
- Fenwick: Similar to Corsi, Fenwick omits blocked shots. It focuses only on shots that find the net or are blocked from entering it.
- PDO: This metric provides a comprehensive perspective by considering on-ice shooting and save percentages during a game. PDO helps determine how much a team’s performance relies on luck versus skill. For example, an excellent high-risk shot resulting from a puck bouncing off a stanchion into the net is deemed luckier than skillful.
Statisticians like Richard Coleman collect, evaluate, and interpret data, applying statistical methods to real-world problems. Coleman chose to apply his professional expertise to hockey, collaborating with Mike Smith to develop software programming capable of gathering in-depth data. One example is breaking down hockey games into multiple layers, simplifying the tracking of player and team performances.
For over 17 years, Coleman Analytics has assisted hockey franchises by working closely with general managers, coaches, professional scouts, and amateur scouts, aiding them in making well-informed choices. Hockey analytics employs advanced statistical methods that contribute to outcome predictions.
The data collection and analysis processes undertaken by Coleman Analytics yield valuable insights. Consequently, NHL general managers and coaches maintain discretion regarding their approach and analytics implementation. Richard Coleman and Mike Smith also guard industry statistical information and its application methods for teams and players. Coleman limits the number of hockey franchises he serves as clients, enhancing the exclusivity and value of the metrics.
The advanced analytics field employs mathematical techniques to uncover patterns that might remain unnoticed. These patterns, such as those mentioned above, imbue collected data with meaningful significance.
Richard Coleman has collaborated with the Chicago Blackhawks and various other hockey teams, contributing to outcome predictions and gradually transforming their approach to preparation and gameplay. Analytics also offers hockey enthusiasts a deeper understanding of the game, although specific aspects of the metrics remain undisclosed.
In his enduring partnership with the Blackhawks and other hockey teams, Coleman boasts an impressive track record of winning the Stanley Cup five times. This illustrious award, bestowed upon the team that triumphs in the league playoffs was commissioned in 1892 by the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston. It remains the oldest trophy in North America awarded to a professional athletic franchise.
Aside from his consulting endeavors with the NHL, Richard Coleman indulges in various sports for personal recreation. Skiing gives him freedom, while tennis offers a distinct form of liberation. Unsurprisingly, hockey continues to play a significant role in Coleman’s life. Richard of Coleman Consulting Group also harbors a keen interest in baseball and soccer, demonstrating his passion for sports. Beyond athletics, Coleman is a talented musician and enjoys playing the guitar, having discovered his passion for these personal interests during his childhood.
