When Rice University decided to elevate its athletic programs, it didn’t just aim for incremental change—it leaped into the future. In a groundbreaking collaboration, Rice University’s Office of Innovation and its Athletics Department have teamed up with BeOne Sports, a cutting-edge startup founded by Rice alumni, to completely transform how athletes are trained, monitored, and supported. With the power of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology, this partnership sets a new standard for performance optimization, injury prevention, and athlete care that could very well put Rice at the forefront of sports science innovation.

An AI-Driven Game Changer for Athletics

If you think AI is just for self-driving cars and robots, think again. BeOne Sports has developed a revolutionary AI-based "Comparative Training" technology that uses simple mobile devices to capture, analyze, and improve athletes' biomechanics. This is no small feat. Through the integration of BeOne’s advanced data analytics and Rice’s world-class sports medicine and rehabilitation programs, athletes can receive personalized insights into their performance, ensuring they are not only stronger and faster but also healthier and more resilient.

"At Rice Athletics, we are always striving to be at the forefront of innovation, and our partnership with BeOne Sports exemplifies that commitment," said Tommy McClelland, vice president and director of athletics. "By leveraging their state-of-the-art AI technology and data analytics, we can elevate how we support and develop our athletes—ensuring they are better prepared to succeed both athletically and academically."

  

Born from Rice, Built for the Future

BeOne Sports isn't just any tech startup—it was born from the innovation-driven culture at Rice University. Co-founded by Rice MBA alumni Scott Deans, Jason Bell, and former student-athlete James McNaney, BeOne Sports is a prime example of how Rice cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration to solve real-world problems. Their AI-driven performance tools aim to democratize access to elite-level sports training, allowing athletes at all levels to benefit from high-level analysis and insights.

"Our mission is to provide cutting-edge technology to maximize potential in the simplest, fastest, and most versatile ways possible," said Scott Deans, CEO of BeOne Sports. "This partnership with Rice is an exciting step toward democratizing access to sports technology for athletes and coaches at all levels."

Raising the Bar for Athlete Care

One of the most exciting aspects of this partnership is how it can revolutionize athlete care. In an era where sports injuries can make or break careers, BeOne’s AI can monitor athletes in real-time, allowing trainers to identify potential issues before they become major injuries. Rice athletes will now have access to a global database of human movement, enabling them to compare their biomechanics against elite athletes worldwide.

For Rice, this partnership isn’t just about sports—it’s about using technology to improve lives. "This collaboration is a testament to Rice’s commitment to leading through innovation and offering unparalleled opportunities for our students," said Rice President Reginald DesRoches.

A Launchpad for Future Innovators

In addition to enhancing athletic performance, the collaboration between Rice and BeOne Sports opens up unique professional development opportunities for students and faculty. The partnership includes internships, research projects, and hands-on learning experiences in sports technology, allowing students to gain invaluable experience at the intersection of science, athletics, and innovation.

Paul Cherukuri, Rice’s chief innovation officer, emphasized the importance of this intersection. "BeOne Sports exemplifies the innovative spirit we champion at Rice, where entrepreneurship and engineering excellence converge. This partnership showcases how our innovation ecosystem is expanding beyond business into athletics, creating new opportunities that benefit both our students and the world at large."

Conclusion: A Bold New Era for Rice Athletics

Rice University’s partnership with BeOne Sports isn’t just about improving athlete performance—it’s about changing the game entirely. By combining advanced AI technology with Rice’s storied legacy of academic and athletic excellence, this collaboration promises to set a new bar for what’s possible in sports performance and injury prevention.

Whether you're a Rice alum, a sports enthusiast, or someone simply interested in the future of athletic care, one thing is clear: Rice University is blazing a trail in sports science, and the future looks bright for its athletes.

For more info, visit Rice.edu