After playing her final collegiate match four years ago, 4x All-American Torrey Van Winden has taken her talents to a new industry. From dominating on the sand and the court at UCLA, Cal Poly, and Florida State, to helping pioneer new technology, Torrey is changing the game for volleyball coaches, athletes, and youth sports families across the country. We sat down with the former Big West Conference Player of the Year on her decision to join GameChanger.
What drew you to the sports technology industry?
“When I was completing my Master’s of Sport Management at Florida State during COVID, I was researching all of the different ways that I could be involved in the sports world after being an athlete. It was the first time I had ever really thought of doing or being anything outside of a professional athlete or coach.
A former sideline reporter who had covered my college matches was working at GameChanger, and reached out to see if I was interested in an open role. As a highly technical and analytical athlete, my interest was piqued. What started as a contractor role has since evolved into a full-time position where I work closely with engineers and designers to develop the product, consult on partnerships, and spearhead product launch strategies. After two major knee surgeries while I pursued a professional beach volleyball career, then learning more about the company and technology, I knew GameChanger was the next step.
What do we have to look forward to as GameChanger continues to build its volleyball product?
“Even in its infancy, GameChanger Volleyball solves so many pain points that I’ve experienced first-hand. With mobile live streaming and a free-for-coaches business model, GameChanger breaks down physical and financial barriers for those who are unable to attend games in person. As the product evolves, the volleyball community can expect more free film review tools to help coaches save time and review key moments with their team.”
How has working at GameChanger continued to fuel your passion for the sport?
“I am incredibly passionate about growing this sport that we love so much. With organizations prioritizing growth at the professional level, I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow the game at the heart of our sport — the youth level. I believe that in order for our sport to grow at the professional level, there needs to be a greater understanding and education of volleyball at a fundamental level. By breaking down accessibility barriers and making game content FREE – I am able to contribute to growing the game domestically, and eventually globally. That fires me up!
What sets GameChanger apart from other gameday solutions?
A big differentiator is that GameChanger is always free for coaches. We build solutions for those with limited resources who need a singular place to manage, communicate, and improve their teams.
As a do-it-yourself solution for coaches and parents alike, any parent can set up a stream and score the game for FREE! This puts the power of streaming in the user’s own pocket so families, fans and staff never have to rely on anyone else streaming the game.
Lastly, GameChanger is an incredible well of talented tech professionals who have a proven track-record in the industry. With the power of our parent company DICK’S Sporting Goods behind us, we are able to move fast in the pursuit of industry-leading innovation that is inspired by the devout dedication to our users.”
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US Patent Nos. 8,731,458 and 9,393,485.
