Jason Scott

As a person who wants to develop as much as possible, I sent e-mails out to a range of coaches across the East Coast of America, with the view to coming over and visiting their programs to learn and see what more I could do to improve myself. I was very fortunate that Coach Wells - from Endicott College in Beverly, MA - has recently visited Europe, and understood first-hand the state of American Football in Great Britain.

 

Coach Wells was hugely supportive, offering me advice and support throughout the season and - following continued dialogue - I invited him and an All-Star team over to the UK to compete against Loughborough. Unfortunately, due to the worldwide recession, only ten players were able to come over and visit, so they merged forces with the Loughborough Aces, and played the Tamworth Phoenix in the first 'Griffin Bowl'.

 

Coach Wells was impressed with how we ran the Loughborough program, so invited me over to coach the Endicott College Gulls for the following pre-season, so I took some annual leave from my paid profession, and joined the staff in Beverly for three weeks of camp. It was a life changing experience, as I was immersed in the world of football for the first time - coaching players who were superior athletes to what I was used to, and working with facilities that far outstripped Loughborough. I coached the Tight Ends throughout camp - a position I had helped coach at Loughborough - and worked with some phenomenal coaches on the offensive side of the ball.

 

That season the Gulls went on to win the first New England Football Conference in their history, earning a spot in the NCAA tournament. In addition, Taylor Allen - one of the Tight Ends I had worked with, earned a spot on the NEFC All-Conference team and the ECAC All East team.

 

I must have made an impression, as the following summer Coach Wells offered me an opportunity to come back and coach in a full-time role to coach the defensive line. The Gulls had a phenomenal season, finishing 10-1, winning the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl in the process. I was extremely lucky to work with some hugely talented athletes, who were fantastic to coach - they loved the idea of having a British guy coaching, and when the novelty wore off, and they realised I knew what I was talking about, they loved it even more. Several players were named All-Conference, and Kevin Eagan was named the D3 ECAC East Defensive Player of the Year. It was a pleasure coaching Kevin - he was widely recruited as a High School player, and received several offers to play Division 1 football, yet he chose to stay closer to home, and head to Endicott College where his brother played. He was extremely humble, hard-working and very gifted, and was rewarded with a pro contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

 

It spoke volumes about the team and our ambitions that a 10-1 season, with another ECAC Bowl Win was considered an under-achieving year. During the winter months, and throughout the off-season, we re-tooled, re-focused and was re-invigorated for the new season. I learned a huge amount from Coach Holmes - our defensive coordinator - and find myself using a lot of his terminology and philosophies today. He understood how to get the best from his players, and was always looking for a competitive advantage.

 

I was switched to my preferred position at linebacker, and was also given an opportunity to contribute more on Special Teams, working specifically with the PAT/FG team and the kick return team. I was also given much more responsibility off the field, helping with team academics, study hall and volunteering.

 

Despite losing our opening game of the season against a non-conference opponent, we ran the table on the NEFC, winning the championship game at home against Salve Regina - the second conference championship in four seasons, and a fitting end to my time at Endicott.

 

I loved my time on the North Shore, not just with the football program, but also being an active part of the college community. The last year I was at Endicott, I was asked to contribute to a college 'Supporters Group' - an initiative, driven by student-athletes, to help generate more campus spirit, and pride in Endicott Athletics. Between myself, Coach Cipolla - my good friend and Field Hockey Head Coach - and a particularly engaged group of athletes, we launched the 'Gull Revolution' on the unsuspecting students at Endicott. The net result helped generate a huge spike in attendance across all sports, which - I'd like to think - helped Endicott Athletics to their best ever on-field performance. Throughout the year, Endicott teams won 9 Conference Championships, 3 ECAC Championships, and 10 appearances in the NCAA tournament.

 

I arrived in 2011 as a football coach, but left as a member of the greater Endicott College community. It's a great school, with great staff and phenomenal students, and I was very lucky to have spent three and a half GREAT years there.