About US
Our Staff:
Jeff Chapman, Senior Partner,
CEO & COO jeffc@stat-factor.com
– Traveling statistician for Fox Sports for more than 25 years
– Gus Johnson’s researcher/statistician since 2010
– Over 25 years as a sportswriter in the S.F. Bay Area – winner of Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) National Feature Story of the Year in 1989
– Austin-based statistician for ESPN and Longhorn Network
Bo Chapman [1983-2019]
– Before passing away in 2019, Bo was the Executive Director of Research for Pro Sports at STAT Factor, in addition to his work as a traveling statistician, researcher and spotter for Fox Sports for over a decade. He was the traveling research coordinator for Fox A-Crew with Gus Johnson and Charles Davis, and was the font coordinator / graphics producer for Pac-12 Network for nearly five years. Bo was also a talent statistician for the Bay Area “Big Six” – Warriors, 49ers, Raiders, Giants, A’s and Sharks – as well as all the Bay Area Division-I schools.
Brian Gramling, Senior Partner
briang@stat-factor.com
– One of 3 original founders of STAT Factor, oversees finances and scheduling and training of staff
– Spent nearly 25 years at ESPN as a Talent Statistician and Senior Researcher
– 2-time Emmy Award-winning graphics producer for SportsCenter
-Also worked in ESPN managerial roles in studio production and on-air programming department for ESPN Classic
– Sportswriter for 20+ years for national newsstand publications and ESPN.com
Dave Del Grande, Partner
davedg@stat-factor.com
– San Francisco Bay Area-based college and pro sports reporter/columnist for Field Level Media
– 17-year Warriors beat reporter, Bay Area News Group
– Original “Mr. Fantasy” – creator of MrFantasy.com Web site
– Authored first weekly fantasy sports column in a daily newspaper/first nationally syndicated fantasy sports column by Universal Press
– Aided fantasy football start-up at ESPN, USA Today, NFL.com
– Two-year soccer player at University of California
Mike Matthews, Partner
mikem@stat-factor.com
– College Sports Director at STAT Factor who oversees the writing and editing of all college sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) plus women’s sports (WNBA, college basketball, softball and volleyball)
– Has spent nearly 40 years in various capacities in college athletics, including sports information, compliance, enforcement, championships administration, and information technology at the institutional and conference levels.
– He’s been around so long, he remembers when Game-Winning RBI was an official baseball stat.
Jeff Faraudo, Senior Writer
– Co-publisher of Cal Sports Report, a Sports Illustrated website related to the California Golden Bears, as part of 20+ years covering Cal football.
– Four decades of experience writing for daily newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Oakland Tribune, San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times.
– Covered college basketball, with focus on Cal and Stanford, since the late 1980s. Worked dozens of NCAA Tournament games and 8 Final Fours.
– Traveled to 4 Summer Olympics – Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing – with emphasis on track & field and swimming.
Michael Freer, Senior Writer
– Spent 20 years as a researcher in ESPN’s Stats & Information Group
– Two-time Emmy Award winner for work on SportsCenter
– Was lead researcher for NBA2night & NFL2night
– Traveled to work such events as the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, BCS National Championship Game, Frozen Four Championship, NBA Draft Combine
– Sports editor/writer for 10 years prior to position with ESPN
Eric Mirlis, Senior Writer
– Talent Statistician for 30+years for ESPN, FOX, MSG and others, currently alongside Bob Wischusen, Matt Barrie, Steve Levy and Kenny Albert and for NBC Sports Olympic coverage
– Author of “I Was There!” and “Being There” books which included interviews of Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, Joe Buck, Frank Deford and Ernie Harwell
– Ran all statistics operations for NBA from 1996-2003 as Manager of Game Operations; Other past work includes coordinating producer at FOX Sports where he helped launch Fox Sports 1; Manager of Ticker Operations during relaunch of CBS Sports Network; NCAA.com Managing Editor; Islanders Asst Director of Media Relations
Vince Baldassano, Contributing Writer
-Contributes to Syracuse Orange sports blogs and has interviewed various players, with a focus on basketball recruiting and analysis
-Has covered sporting events and interviewed college, professional and Olympic athletes for various outlets, including WNBC-TV in New York
-Extensive experience as a segment producer, writer and booker/ researcher for various national cable networks including Fox News Channel and MSNBC
Doug Mittler, Contributing Writer
-Researcher-reporter and writer at ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com
-Talent statistician for New York Mets telecasts on SNY
-Statistician for MLB, NBA, NFL, XFL, college football and college basketball broadcasts on a variety of networks
-Researcher at MLB Network and ABC Sports
-Senior Editor at SportsTicker
Jim Keller, Contributing Writer
-35 years experience analyzing sports data in various roles at Howe SportsData, SportsTicker, ESPN, STATS Inc, Nielsen and Press Association
-Researcher/Reporter at ESPN The Magazine
-ESPN/SportsTicker Senior Editor (also MLB, college basketball editor)
-Long-suffering Pittsburgh Pirates fan who remembers when Roberto Clemente was replaced in RF with C Manny Sanguillen
Mike McCurry, Contributing Writer
-2-time Emmy Award-winning researcher/associate producer for MLB Network
-Past hoops contributor at ZAGSBLOG & SB Nation, among other publications
-UConn Class of 2014 (member of women’s basketball practice team all 4 years … dropped buckets on Shabazz Napier in a pickup game)
-Based out of New Jersey, 2-time basketball state champion
Kevin Messenger, Contributing Writer
-Football and basketball live broadcast statistician, working regularly with Big Ten Network, FOX, CBS, ESPN, Westwood One Radio and Compass Sports Media
-Spent 17 years with Pacers Sports & Entertainment where he led public relations efforts for the Indiana Fever and managed media operations at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
-Worked over 30 years in college and professional sports, mainly in sports information; Roles included at UNLV, Indiana State, Pacific and Maryland, where he covered football and women’s basketball before twice attending Final Four including the 2002 NCAA Championship as the primary media contact for the Terrapins’ men’s basketball team.
-Native of Denver who graduated from University of Pacific
John Hickey, Contributing Writer
-Long-time MLB writer, spending three tours covering the Oakland A’s (Oakland Tribune, Bay Area News Group and Sports Illustrated) and one covering Seattle Mariners
-National baseball writer/columnist for AOL/Fanhouse as well as the site’s beat writer for Seattle Seahawks
-Writer and editor for SportsPress Northwest, Sports Xchange, Athlon Magazine and others
-Freelance writer with USA Today, ESPN, MLB.com and others
-Co author, with John Shea, Magic by the Bay, the inside story of Bay Area baseball in the year of the 1989 Earthquake
-Author, The Oakland A’s, the story of the 1988-90 Oakland A’s
Mark Strotman, Contributing Writer
-Veteran sports betting journalist for Bookies.com
-Has covered Chicago Bulls and the NBA since 2012; Regularly provides NBA betting picks and in-depth sportsbooks reviews
-Work has appeared on ESPN.com, FoxSports.com, The Chicago Tribune and Yahoo Sports
Carl Carchia, Contributing Writer
-More than 15 years’ experience in sports journalism, including commercial editor for Gambling Group/Bookies.com
-Contributed to sports betting coverage for Covers.com & Bonus.com
-Newsdesk editor and researcher for CBS Sports HQ, spent 6 years at ESPN as a researcher/reporter and 2 years as editor at PA SportsTicker
Tony Lee, Contributing Writer
-Two decades of experience in sports journalism/data with work appearing on ESPN.com, Associated Press, NESN.com and TeamUSA.org
-Red Sox beat writer for NESN.com and ESPNBoston.com in 2010-14
-College basketball and boxing editor at ESPN/SportsTicker
-Authored two children's sports books, one on the top rivalries in sports and another on the history of Clemson football
-Native Vermonter and UVM grad who used to study at Patrick Gym during games because it was quieter than the library ... long before Taylor Coppenrath and TJ Sorrentine arrived on campus
Tim Slack, Contributing Writer
-STAT Factor social media expert picked up social media and graphic design, earning national recognition for his work
-15 years in professional and collegiate sports as play-by-play broadcaster, statistician and sports information director
-Took a brief detour as a High School baseball coach and called pitches for more no-hitters (4) than he has called as a broadcaster (1)
Tim Gramling, Contributing Writer
-Time Inc. Senior Writer for DraftEngine Fantasy Football magazine and Managing Editor for Major League Baseball Yearbook and Fantasy Guide
-Managing Editor for Pro Basketball Preview and Draft Guide
-Provided content for various NFL player personal sites, including Jerry Rice, Lee Evans, Doug Flutie, Willie McGinest and Deuce McAllister
-Wrote and edited numerous TIME for Kids and Sports Illustrated for Kids publications
Larry Gramling, Contributing Writer
-Retired University of Connecticut-Storrs accounting professor/associate dean for 38 years
-Presented multiple baseball-themed papers at Cooperstown Symposium with students and peers
-Conducts “Baseball Reminiscence” program to help senior citizens combat memory loss through the history of baseball
-Baltimore Orioles fan since franchise began in 1954
-Born and raised in Williamsport, PA, the home of Little League Baseball
Dan Porri, Contributing Writer
-Former Senior Writer for Harris Publications Fantasy Football Magazine, specializing in team and positional previews
-Content contributor for Athlon Sports, specializing in NFL and Buffalo Bills coverage
-UConn Class of 2004 (undergrad), Boston University Class of 2015 (Master of Education)
-Lifelong Buffalo Bills and UConn Huskies superfan and statistics geek