With the cancellation of all spring sports due to COVID-19, the Fighting Tiger Athletic Department would like to take this opportunity to start a new weekly feature called "Meet our Coaches" to introduce you to a member of our SUNY Cobleskill coaching staff. 
 
In this week's edition of "Meet our Coaches", we are featuring men's basketball head coach Jake Scott.


Nearly three months ago Jake Scott wrapped up is fourth, and arguably his best season as the Fighting Tigers men's basketball head coach.  During the 2019-20 season, his team set multiple program records including most regular season wins and the highest winning percentage since the program's move to the NCAA in 2008.  This past season the team finished with an overall record of 16-9, including a 10-6 North Eastern Atlantic Conference (NEAC) record.

This season, Coach Scott led the Tigers to new heights and helped them enter the Cobleskill record books.  The team set a new program record of the most wins in a two-year span since Cobleskill jumped to the division III level. His senior Antwan Claxton (Bronx, N.Y./Taft) was named as a First Team All-NEAC selection, their team MVP and the SUNY Cobleskill's Male Athlete of the Year. Joining Claxton on an All-NEAC team was junior James Conteh (Queens, N.Y./The Patrick School), who was a Second Team All-NEAC selection. Besides their success on the court, his team had ten players finish the year with a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

During the 2018-19 season, his third year at the helm, Coach Scott led Cobleskill to their first NEAC playoff appearance in four seasons.  The team's finished with a 15-11 overall record, including a 10-6 NEAC record.  Their regular season win total tied the program record at the time.  It also marked a seven-game win improvement from the previous season.  
 
For his first two years as head coach, his teams took immediate jumps in improvement each year. In his first year as head coach during the 2016-17 season, he took over a men's basketball program that finished 3-22 overall during the previous season. In his first year as head coach, he improved their win total by one game, going 4-21 overall.

Then in his second year, his team doubled their win total from the previous season.  The Tigers went 8-17 overall, with a 5-11 NEAC record.  They also had two players named as NEAC Scholar-Athlete award winners. 

During his career at Cobleskill, he has improved his win total every year since he joined the Fighting Tigers. He has coached five All-NEAC selections and had numerous players honored as NEAC Scholar-Athletes.  He is currently ranked second all-time in career wins since the program moved to the NCAA level.
    
Outside of coaching, Coach Scott is an advocate for giving back to the community. He has helped the men's basketball program establish a special connection with the local Cobleskill youth basketball programs. Throughout his four years, players and coaches from Cobleskill have worked with local youth basketball players developing their skills and educating them about basketball as well as local coaches. 

Before he came to Cobleskill, he was the men's basketball head coach at SUNY Maritime College for four years.  Just like at Cobleskill, his teams improved their win total every season while he was there.  He came to SUNY Maritime after spending three seasons as the assistant basketball coach at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

While at RIT, Coach Scott helped the basketball program by scouting, recruiting student-athletes, creating off-season workouts and various other responsibilities. He coached four All-Liberty League players during his time.

After earning his bachelor's degree in sport studies from St. John Fisher in 2005, Scott became a graduate assistant coach at Division I Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va..  He had to pleasure to learn from current University of Pittsburgh Head Coach, Jeff Capel. In 2006, Scott earned his master's degree from VCU in sport leadership.

Later in 2006, Scott became the junior varsity head coach at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Va. The following season, he earned the head varsity basketball coaching and athletic director positions at nearby Amelia Academy.

Coach Scott resides locally in Cobleskill, N.Y. with his wife Caitlin and their dog, Denny. 

Get to know Coach Jake Scott!

 
When and how did you first get involved with coaching?
My goal during my senior year of college was to get a graduate assistant position while getting my master's degree. I had played a little in college and helped out at my local high school and knew I wanted to coach. I was able to get a GA spot at VCU. It was an incredible experience seeing Division I at the highest level.
 
What inspired you to become a collegiate coach?
My previous experiences in basketball inspired me most. It definitely wasn't a linear path to becoming a college coach. I felt like my experiences as a player/GA/young high school coach gave me a different perspective than others. It was a path of ups and downs and I thought college students would be able to relate to that.
 
What's your favorite part about working with the student-athletes at Cobleskill?
The relationships and seeing them develop as people. We just graduated our first four-year class that I have been involved with and seeing them from the first day I got here to now is the best thing about coaching. They were responsible for taking a struggling program to a successful one, and now that they have done that, they can do that anywhere they want in life.
 
Who has had the greatest impact or has been the most influential in your career?
Unfortunately, I can't pick one. My 3rd grade teacher Mr. Zahn who introduced me to basketball (I was the ball boy when he was the high school coach). Coach Bob McVean at RIT gave me first real college coaching opportunity. I learned not only about the game of basketball but how to run a program and treat people the right way from him. And my parents have been with me on this journey supporting me the entire time.
 
In your own opinion, what would you call your greatest accomplishment in your coaching or playing career?
The last two years have been very special and beat anything I ever did in my career. A lot of great young men came here when Cobleskill was not highly thought of in Division III basketball. And seeing them accomplish so much on and off the court has been incredible. Work hard, be a selfless person and appreciate your opportunities is what we based the program on.
 
What is your favorite memory as a Fighting Tiger so far?
This year's 17-point comeback win at Penn State Harrisburg. We didn't play well the first half and I wasn't happy with our first string. Our second and third string played the beginning of the second half and played so hard and fundamental. It was a great win, a fun game and great lesson on how to handle adversity.
 
What is one of your favorite quotes and why?
"Talent is overrated."
I believe it's easy to spot talent in any line of work. But is someone who is caring of others, hardworking, determined, organized and able to handle adversity; those people (or teams) usually have the most success over a long period of time.
 
If you had your own late-night talk show, who would you have as your first guest and who would play your intro music?
Ray Lewis. Because he speaks with such passion and truth.
Rick Ross for music.
 
Name three things on your bucket list?
1. Coach in the NCAA tournament.
2. Get over my hatred of planes and take my wife on a tropical vacation.
3. Watch my former players coach and have a good laugh.
 
Favorite athlete of all-time and favorite team?
Athlete- Allen Iverson
Team- Syracuse Basketball
 
What's a fun fact that people might not know about you?
I love to cook. I'm good, probably not great, but definitely good. I cook dinner every night at home no matter what time I get home from practice because it's relaxing, and I enjoy it.