Experience pays handsome dividends. After playing football on the scholastic, major college, and professional levels, Scott Greene has listened to, observed, and played for a variety of coaches. The vast array of coaching techniques has given him an appreciation of the craft.
That appreciation reached a higher level in May 2006, when Greene was named the head coach of the University of Rochester football program.
“I’m excited to be the head coach at the University of Rochester,” said Greene. “I believe deeply that this program can get to the next level with commitment and support from the University as a whole.”
The ups-and-downs of a particular game, the regimentation of practice sessions, and the camaraderie all play an important role. “The game itself is a great game,” Greene says, “and it teaches you so much about life. You watch people develop from a young teenager to an adult.”
Greene was the Section V player of the year at Canandaigua Academy in 1991. He played in the Big Ten - matriculating at Michigan State University. He earned four varsity letters for his football skills in East Lansing. As a Spartan, he was a two-time team MVP, set a Michigan State record for receptions by a back, and led the team in scoring, ranking fourth nationally.
Following his collegiate career, Greene was selected in the sixth round of the 1996 National Football League draft by Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Polian of the Carolina Panthers. He established a Carolina record for receptions in a season by a running back and ranked fifth among league backs.
He played with the Indianapolis Colts from 1998-1999 and was the team’s starting fullback in 1998.
Coaches are measured in wins and losses by fans and others. Greene knows that players and fellow coaches have a deeper understanding and definition of success.
His impact at UR was immediate. Rochester finished with a 7-4 record in 2006 and a 6-5 record in 2007. Rochester was selected for the ECAC Northwest Regional Championship Game in 2006 and 2007, marking the first time that the Yellowjackets had back to back playoff bids. In the Liberty League, Rochester finished in third place with a 4-2 mark in 2006, a 5-2 record in 2007.
Over his 11 seasons on the sidelines at Rochester, Greene has a 48-57 (.457) career record with a 34-39 (.466) mark in Liberty League play. Greene became the third winningest coach in Rochester football history in 2014, notching his 42nd win in a thrilling OT game against WPI on Nov. 8 with his Yellowjackets coming out on top 24-21.
“A good coach gets the players to believe in each other,” he says. “That way, they believe in what they are playing for. And when they believe in what they are playing for, you have a chance to be successful. A good coach helps players buy into the concept of a team.”
The tone was set in Greene’s debut as a head coach - a 20-10 victory at Johns Hopkins. Rochester forced turnovers twice when the Blue Jays got inside the 10. Late in the game, the Yellowjackets returned an interception 80 yards for the clinching touchdown.
Positive energy carried throughout the season. The Yellowjackets rallied late in the fourth quarter to defeat Liberty League opponents St. Lawrence and Kings Point. By season’s end, the team broke 10 offensive records.
A similar scenario developed in 2007. Rochester won six straight games, the longest win streak since 1992, and entered the final regular season game tied for the Liberty League lead.
Thirty men have walked the Rochester sidelines before him. The Yellowjackets have a football legacy: unbeaten teams, an NCAA playoff appearance, championships in the University Athletic Association and the Liberty League.
As much as he has a game plan drawn up for a specific week, Greene has a game plan for the season. “My job (as a head coach) is to get the players to a point where they see what it takes to achieve success,” he said. “We demand a lot of our students academically at the University. It has to translate on to the football field.”
Greene resides in Canandaigua, NY with his wife, Sarah, and two sons, Carson and Colin.
| YEAR BY YEAR COACHING RECORD |
|
|
OVERALL |
CONFERENCE |
|
| YEAR |
SCHOOL |
WIN |
LOSS |
WIN |
LOSS |
POSTSEASON |
| 2006 |
University of Rochester |
7 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
ECAC NW Playoff (L- OT) |
| 2007 |
University of Rochester |
6 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
ECAC NW Playoff (L) |
| 2008 |
University of Rochester |
3 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
None |
| 2009 |
University of Rochester |
4 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
None |
| 2010 |
University of Rochester |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
None |
| 2011 |
University of Rochester |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
None |
| 2012 |
University of Rochester |
4 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
None |
| 2013 |
University of Rochester |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
None |
| 2014 |
University of Rochester |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
None |
| 2015 |
University of Rochester |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
None |
| 2016 |
University of Rochester |
1 |
8 |
0 |
7 |
None |
| 2017 |
University of Rochester |
2 |
7 |
0 |
5 |
None |
|
ROCHESTER TOTALS |
50 |
64 |
34 |
44 |
|
|
GRAND TOTAL |
50 |
64 |
34 |
44 |
|
|
PERCENT |
.439 |
.436 |
|
