Haslam College of Business - Gus Alvarez-Suchini: Connecting Data Science and Athletics

In a technology-driven world, data literacy and coding skills are becoming increasingly important. However, these concepts and skills are not easily accessible or approachable to all, especially students.

Gus Alvarez-Suchini, a Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences studying learning design and technology, is working to change the way students view data science and information technology. He founded the athletic and educational program DataRook to empower students with the skills and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly data-driven world through accessible learning experiences.

Skills through Soccer

DataRook introduces young learners to data science fundamentals through an unexpected medium: soccer. Students participate in soccer activities while wearing GPS trackers that collect performance data in real time.

By combining athletics with technology, students connect physical activity with analytical thinking while also building relationships with coaches and mentors.

Participants can view their own data, allowing them to see how the numbers on the screen connect directly to their movement on the field. Alvarez-Suchini explains that this real-time feedback helps students engage with data in a meaningful and memorable way.

The goal, Alvarez-Suchini says, is to create an environment where learning feels exciting rather than overwhelming.

“We make learning powerful skills feel like play,” he says.

Not only is Alvarez-Suchini teaching the next generation of data scientists, he is also building a soccer-based business at a time where its popularity is at a record high in the U.S. With soccer now surpassing baseball as America’s third-favorite sport, Alvarez-Suchini’s venture sits at the intersection of two growing industries, making DataRook a passion project and a timely business opportunity.

From Scientific Curiosity to Entrepreneurship

Alvarez-Suchini has always had a passion for both soccer and science, though he once believed the two existed in separate worlds. That changed when he discovered that his favorite soccer team, Liverpool, was hiring physicists and mathematicians to analyze player performance data.

Understanding how data science was used in professional sports inspired Alvarez-Suchini to explore how those same concepts could be used to educate the younger generation.

He has always had a passion and deep awareness of the lack of access many students have to high-quality STEM education, and this challenge motivated him to create opportunities for students who may not otherwise be exposed to these fields.

“There’s a large portion of kids that don’t get access and opportunity to high-quality STEM programs, and it’s just not fair,” Alvarez-Suchini says.

Although he originally imagined a future working as a scientist in a research lab, Alvarez-Suchini later realized that entrepreneurship could provide a pathway to innovation and discovery while allowing him to simultaneously address issues he cares deeply about.

After connecting with UT’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) and the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC), Alvarez-Suchini became actively involved in the local entrepreneurship community. Within just a few months, he was selected to compete in the SEC Pitch Competition and later won first place in ACEI’s Fall 2025 Graves Business Plan Competition in the growth category.

He describes the entrepreneurship community as the most supportive professional network he has experienced thus far.

In addition to the strong sense of community, Alvarez-Suchini credits the ACEI with providing opportunities that helped him refine his business ideas and build confidence as a founder.

“The start-up coaches have been by far the most invaluable resource,” he explains.

Through mentorship, networking opportunities and hands-on experience, Alvarez-Suchini says the ACEI and UT have helped him grow both personally and professionally.

According to ACEI executive director Breanna Hale, Alvarez-Suchini’s entrepreneurial experience is a fantastic example to other UT students.

“We’re so proud of Gus and the momentum he’s built in such a short time,” she says. “His journey shows other students that they can combine their passions with their skillsets to create something that makes a real difference. That’s exactly the kind of entrepreneurial spirit the ACEI fosters across UT.”

About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Engagement

Housed in UT’s Haslam College of Business, the ACEI is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT. It connects Volunteers with the expertise, resources and collaborators at UT and across the regional ecosystem to advance ideas, tackle bold challenges and turn entrepreneurial ambition into results. At the ACEI, Volunteers are empowered to identify opportunities and take bold action to create value through new ventures.

For more information and upcoming events, visit the ACEI event page.

Author:

Allison Kelly, ACEI director of marketing, akelly9@utk.edu

Contact:

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu