Getting to Know You: Scott James Driscoll
Driscoll, #21 in light jersey, wins a tipoff against Russell Low (#32 in dark jersey) at the Inter-Varsity Polytechnic (IVP) Games, representing the Singapore Institute of Management, 2017.
Driscoll (third from left in the back row) posing with basketball team selected for the ASEAN University Games, 2018.
Scott James Driscoll – Sport Management Graduate Student
Hometown: Singapore
Favorite sport: Basketball
What inspired you to pursue a degree in Sport Management?
While at Buffalo, my professor, Dr. Lance Rintamaki, asked me if I had ever considered grad school so I decided to research potential schools. I was drawn to WSU for three reasons. First, the sport management program had several Asian faculty members such as Dr. Wong and Dr. Rhee, and I liked that because I would get an Asian perspective as well as the US perspective. My second reason was Dr. Licen. His communication background and the fact he works in sports stood out to me and I wanted him to be my mentor. My final reason was the opportunities that WSU could provide, such as working for a Power 5 athletic department and with world-class athletes. I couldn’t say no.
If you could witness any event—past, present, or future—what would it be? Why?
Aside from sport, I am a huge fan of philosophy. I wish I was alive during the Renaissance era to see the explosion of thought, the coming out of the Dark Ages and how life changed through it all. A lot of modern institutions are based on the schools of thought that were established in that period.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
I have been fortunate enough to represent my country in basketball. Putting on the Singapore jersey and hearing the national anthem made me think, wow, this the pinnacle of my career. I didn’t go pro, but representing my country is what I consider my greatest achievement.
Tell us more about your basketball experiences!
I went to a satellite school in Singapore for the University of Buffalo and played for the Buffalo Singapore team. There is a league of other big universities around, so it’s like a mini-conference. We still have a champion like the NCAA, but it is much smaller.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
My goal coming here was always to go back and take what I learned to improve Singaporean sports. I want to be in a position where I can impact policy and help youth athletes reach their potential.
What do you think could make sport management a more inclusive and welcoming field?
In comparison to Singapore, the US is very inclusive. Although the US has policies in place, it’s not perfect. Creating more opportunities for trans and disabled athletes to work in sport might be the next step. Creating a welcoming environment and limiting barriers to entry would allow for more diversity. It gives points of view you would not have considered, and it can go a long way.
How would you compare sports in Singapore and in the United States?
It’s night and day. The biggest thing is the culture. In Singapore, sport is considered a distraction from your education and career whereas for the US it’s a big thing, and it is engrained in your culture, where people can pursue sports as a career, and no one bats an eye.
One thing sport managers in the U.S. should learn from colleagues in Singapore?
The push to be elite in youth sports has a lot of negative consequences on young athletes, physically and mentally. Focus on building intangible skills like teamwork, leadership, how to be a graceful loser, and enjoy the physiological benefits of sport participation.