RIVERDALE, N.Y. (BVM) — Growing up in Scotland, all Jorden Scott knew was soccer. 

“If you didn’t play soccer where I was from, you were socially excluded,” Scott recalled when talking about his childhood. “Remember that this was before the internet, so there wasn’t that much else to do. My father passed down soccer to me, and I fell in love with it.”

Through hard work and passion for the game, Scott was able to earn a spot on a youth professional club called Ayr United FC, playing for them for four years. He originally wanted to make playing soccer a career, but circumstances made Scott change his outlook on what exactly he wanted to do with the sport. 

“I had a fairly good career up to age 19,” Scott responded when asked about his playing days. “My coach, George Burley, brought me onto Ayr United at a young age. But I soon realized there was going to be little focus on me when the team sought after more experienced players. So I went to school for a part time education at 17. The situation made me fall out of love with playing the sport a bit.”

Scott didn’t completely stop playing soccer, but he diversified his interests which ultimately led to the beginning of something special. 

After high school, Scott participated in a two-year coaching program at James Watt College. He used the knowledge learned from as an undergraduate at University of Glamorgan in South Wales. Initially, he went to Glamorgan just to play on the soccer team, but he was later given the chance to create and run his first program.

“Everywhere I went in my life, I started programs,” Scott noted in reference to his start up at Glamorgan.

After this successful venture, Scott moved on to the University of Wales. He originally played for the team, but similar to the situation at Glamorgan, he worked his way up to run the show. 

“At 19 I went to the University of Wales,” Scott said. “At first I focused on my studies, with my main focus being in sports psychology. But then I became the captain of the team, and eventually took over the program and all the teams in it. It was a fun journey.” 

Despite only being in his early twenties, Scott had the wherewithal to not only coach at a university, but also run two separate soccer programs. The passion he once had for playing was now going towards creating, and eventually creating for a greater good. 

As Scott said himself, “When I see a major opportunity, I go for it, no matter how daunting the task might be.”

This risk taking was evident when he desired to take his newly developed interests overseas. Fresh out of university, Scott used his credentials as the representative for the University of Wales sports program to move to Montclair, N.J. He was a trainer for a short amount of time until his visa ran out. 

Faced with the possibility of having to go back home, Scott ran into a stroke of luck when he was offered an opportunity to set up an organization in Botswana. As the program director of Football for Life, he worked to give children in poverty the resources to train for soccer. The program also offered general education, and athletic opportunity for women.

“It was one of the greatest things I ever did,” Scott said. “I was offered this opportunity at 23, and thought why not. This was an area that never even had equipment. I usually never share my African stories because people don’t believe them. I was chased by animals. I traveled all over the continent. It was amazing. I had an experience very few others had.”

This journey allowed Scott to discover the true purpose of his endeavors. 

“The programs aren’t about me,” Scott reflected when asked what he learned in Botswana. “I enjoy helping others rather than helping myself. It’s about building something and having others take over and take it to the next level. I’m a builder.” 

With his goals clearer than ever, Scott made his way back to the states to resume his position as a coach, trainer, and the Academy Director at the Sports Domain Academy in Montclair. On top of training players, he was responsible for reviving the struggling departments within the program, leaving them in great condition for others to expand on. 

In 2010, Scott became the assistant coach for the Manhattan men’s soccer team before becoming the head coach in 2013. Unlike his previous programs, this wasn’t one he created from scratch. But it was in need of major improvement,  and Scott didn’t disappoint whatsoever.  

On top of being the 2013 MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year, Scott led Manhattan soccer to a program record in wins, multiple MAAC Men’s Soccer Tournaments, and All-MAAC team appearances for numerous players. 

However, to Scott, building this Manhattan program goes beyond the achievements on the field. 

“I see a lot of opportunity,” Scott said when asked about his team’s current and future success. “We can do something special. One of the best things is now when I reach out to people in this program, I can call them a friend. Being able to see these players go on to be successful in life because of what the program provided is the best part. I love my job and what we’ve built.” 

Consistent with his other programs, what Scott created at Manhattan is more than just soccer. He revolutionized the program to not only provide great opportunities for those partaking in it, but set up its participants for future success.

Scott’s Manhattan soccer program is now in incredible shape thanks to his efforts, but he won’t be satisfied until one more feat is conquered. 

“My dream is to win a MAAC Championship as a reward for the work everyone in the program did,” Scott said. “I’m not gonna give up until it happens. I want to do this for everyone that made sacrifices.”

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