Adam Unes

Hometown: Brimfield, IL

Current Location: Chicago, IL

Tell us about your personal and professional journey.

Adam Unes is the Director of Analytics at Excel Sports Management, where he leads sponsorship valuation, predictive modeling, and data strategy across the agency's brand marketing, properties, and talent divisions. Alongside a team of analysts, Adam helps to develop products and solutions that are reshaping the ways their agency delivers insights for prominent clients such as Under Armour, Salesforce, the Washington Nationals, Chicago Fire, Caitlin Clark, Kyle Schwarber, and more.

A proud U of I alum, Adam earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2014, followed by his MBA in 2016. As a four-year starter and team captain for the UIS baseball program, he was named to the All-Academic GLVC team four times and earned All-Conference honors as an outfielder in his senior season. He remains 12th all-time in program history for career hits.

After serving as a Graduate Assistant for the UIS baseball program (2014-2016), he transitioned into a career focused on Data Analytics, with an early start as an Analyst for Anheuser Busch in St. Louis. Shortly after, he moved to Chicago to join the Cubs front office, where he spent five years advancing through Baseball Operations, Amateur Scouting, and Player Development in various positions that focused on roster construction, the MLB Draft, and Minor League Infrastructure.

In 2022, Adam took on a new challenge when he transitioned into a consulting role at Slalom, where he focused on Data Strategy and co-founded of the firm’s first-ever Sports, Media, & Entertainment capability in support of client initiatives centered around fan engagement and digital transformation strategies.
Adam’s path recently came full circle when an began teaching part-time as an Adjunct Professor at UIS – helping to jump start the university’s first ever Sports Analytics course.

He is passionate about helping students bridge the gap between higher education and the broader sports industry, helping the next generation of professionals develop the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly data-driven landscape.

Who or what has played a significant role in influencing or mentoring you?

I'm so grateful to have had many mentors and experiences throughout my life and my career. The time I spent as an undergraduate and graduate student at UIS certainly comes to mind. I have very fond memories of the years I was able to cultivate relationships through my education or as part of the UIS baseball program. It was all very influential for me in ways that I can't even begin to summarize.

What accomplishments or contributions are you most proud of—professionally or personally?

I'm most proud of obtaining my MBA and having been able to pursue a career in an industry I'm deeply passionate about.

What goals, projects, or aspirations are you excited about for the future?

I'd like to travel more! While my family, friends, and career have always been important pillars in my life, I am looking forward to taking on new adventures and seeing other parts of the world where possible.

What advice would you share with other emerging professionals who want to make an impact in their field or community?

Continue to learn well beyond your formal education. The most successful people I've worked with are always embracing new ideas, skills, and topics of interest. In the age of AI and our digital world, understanding how to leverage the tools and resources that are available to you is vital for those seeking to make inroads in their field of study or within their broader communities.

Outside of work, what activities, interests, or passions keep you inspired and grounded?

As a lifelong fan and former athlete, I like to stay grounded through the game of baseball. Currently, I spend a lot of free time coaching high school athletes for the Top Tier North organization in Chicago, which keeps me active and consistently reminds me of how washed up I am!

I also recently became a self-described coffee enthusiast and greatly enjoy the process of making at-home espresso. It would be a dream of mine to someday open my own roastery business or coffee shop.