GIS Coaching and Analysis Student on Assisting CONCACAF Caribbean Cup Winners Mount Pleasant

Connor Bagby is a GIS student pursuing his dream of becoming a sports coach.

Enrolled on our MSc Football Coaching and Analysis programme, Connor came to the UK from Kentucky, completing his undergraduate degree in sports coaching before joining us at GIS to further his studies.

While working as an academy coach for Chester FC, Connor also began his role as an analyst for Mount Pleasant Football Academy (MPFA), a top club in the Jamaican Premier League (JPL).

Recent winners of the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, Mount Pleasant is a GIS partner, with our students supporting both their coaching and media teams remotely before flying out to Jamaica to assist in person.

This year, Connor was one of the coaching students selected to take part in the programme, before flying out again to assist the coaching staff as the JPL season reached its final stages.

“Initially, my role was to watch and review opposition analysis,” Connor told GIS. “I was later tasked with analysing MPFA performance relative to the coaches’ demands.

“During this time, I was invited to Jamaica where I and another analyst (Dom Gibson) would aid MPFA in the JPL playoffs. Utilising live coding to analyse their matches in real-time, we directly informed the coach of match statistics and focus areas. 

“Through these opportunities I continue to learn and build upon key skills which are essential in the football industry and for my personal development.”

Back in the UK, Connor continued to gain experience visiting some of the country’s top academies with GIS. These stretch up to Category One clubs, which are the highest ranked academies under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) introduced by the Premier League in 2012.

“I have been invited to some Category One football clubs through GIS where I gained insights into prestigious player development models and training structures, some of which I have adapted and implemented into my own coaching practice.”

Looking ahead, Connor is excited to continue his work supporting MPFA and developing his experience as an academy coach. Reflecting on his time so far with us, Connor said: “GIS is a great environment if you are looking to network, learn, and gain invaluable relationships with people from around the world.”

The networking Connor mentions is a vital skill to have in the sports industry. Adaptability, people skills and curiosity are other abilities that we strive to develop in our students through our expert lecturers and world-class industry access.

To learn more about our courses, from coaching to business, explore our course offerings.

Article by Zakaria Anani