Jacob Nicol, Activation Coordinator Manager
Northern Arizona University
(312) 429-4737
NCSA Recruiting
My junior year of high school is when my family and I really started looking at colleges and the possibility of college sports. It was our first time with the process and we thought that if you were good enough, college coaches would find you. As the athlete, I also thought my coach was responsible for helping with my scholarship. The worst part was not knowing what to do or where to go. I had started the process so late that I was overlooked and slipped through the cracks.
April of my senior year, I moved away from football and signed a Division 1 track and field scholarship to throw the hammer, shotput and discus. I graduated after four years with a BSBA in Computer Information Systems. I redshirted and received a fifth year of scholarship and eligibility and went back to school. During my senior year of throwing, I graduated again with my Master’s in Psychology. I moved on to be a six-time Big Sky Champion, three-time NCAA National Qualifier and graduated twice with All-American honors. Post collegiately, I threw on a world class level in the Scottish Highland Games u20 Division. I won the 2014 World Championship title and set four world records in the 42 lb weight for distance, 42 lb weight for height, 24 lb Braemar Stone and 16 lb open stone events.
I came to NCSA to share my story. I am a firm believer that education is an investment in yourself, and I want nothing more than to help young students drive their own path to success. Being scouted is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you have to make the most of it. The recruting process is complicated, it’s frustrating and completely overwhelming. It kills me to see high school athletes miss out on their dreams of playing college sports simply because of misguided direction.
Outside of work, I enjoy frustration from golf and relaxation from fishing.
