The Mind Behind Stanford Football:
Head Coach David Shaw on Frontier Technology & the Stanford Difference
The quarterback takes the snap. He surveys the field, stares down the defense, and locks in on his receiver. He delivers the ball … and then rejoins reality.
This could be any given day at Stanford Football practice, where Head Coach David Shaw helped pioneer the use of virtual reality for quarterback preparation. But cutting-edge training techniques are just part of the story that make this coach and this program truly remarkable.
Join Chat Sports on Wednesday May 18 at the next installment of Minds Behind the Game series — a national thought leadership series that features today’s most influential minds in sports and technology. A three-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year and two-time Rose Bowl champion, Coach Shaw’s name has become synonymous with Stanford’s enduring excellence. Now, he sits down for an intimate fireside chat with Chat Sports CEO James Yoder.
“It’s your job to leave and change the world,” Shaw tells his players as they reach their senior year.
In the past, it was considered impossible to build a top-ten football team while promoting pillars of academic excellence. But under Shaw, Stanford has received awards for its 100% graduation rate. He’ll discuss his unique coaching philosophy — on-and-off the field — and how it leads to success in both arenas.
As a pioneer of virtual reality in sports, Stanford was the first program to utilize VR simulation as a low-impact preparation tool. The company they piloted has now signed with 10+ NFL and NCAA ball clubs. So how does Coach Shaw instill a culture of innovation throughout his players and staff? And what other technologies is he harnessing to help Stanford win? These are just some of the questions we’ll explore.
Every attendee will experience innovation firsthand. Between sips of wine and networking chatter, guests will don VR headsets stationed throughout the event’s reception. We’re transforming Boston Consulting Group’s 24th Floor office into an epicenter of sports and technology — all thanks to Rothenberg Ventures and River Studios.
The company’s Founder and CEO, Mike Rothenberg, will open the program with a dive into the landscape of frontier tech. Widely considered “the godfather of virtual reality,” Rothenberg’s accelerator River is leading the way through VR startups focused on everything from injury rehabilitation to gaming.
So join the conversation. Become a thought leader. We’ll be live streaming the full event here, starting at 4:00pm PT on Wednesday 5/18. Watch, and tweet in your questions for Coach Shaw using #behindthegame.
For media credential and invitation inquiries, contact Suzi Alvarez suzi@chatsports.com.
