Name: John Scarpino
Job Title: Director of Athletics
Institution: Palm Beach State College
NATYCAA District: District 3 - AL, DC, FL, GA, LA, MS, TN
Twitter Handle: @PBSCPanthers
 
Where did you attend college?
I attended college at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida

When did you first become involved  with NATYCAA and why?
Jim Cox, the athletics director at Miami Dade, was the person instrumental in getting me involved with NATYCAA back in 2009.  He invited me to the Convention, I believe it was in Orlando, and introduced me to individuals like Ron Case, Jim Forkum, John Volek, and Gary Broadhurst to name a few. After attending the Convention and meeting some of my peers, I knew becoming involved in NATYCAA would not only afford me the opportunity to grow professionally but also connect and develop long lasting relationships with my colleagues across the nation.

What excites you most about  NATYCAA and the future of NATYCAA?
What excites me the most about NATYCAA and the future of NATYCAA is the way the Association has grown over the past ten years and seeing how some of the more recent members are becoming involved in leadership. With over 700 member institutions within the NJCAAA, the CCCAA, and the NWAC, I believe this trend will continue. As we emerge from the recent pandemic, the exploration of NATYCAA using a virtual format to develop new programming opportunities in support of our member institutions will allow us the opportunity to reach our members in ways that were not available to us in the past.

Why would you recommend NATYCAA to someone not yet  involved?
I would recommend NATYCAA to someone not yet  involved because aside from the professional growth and development NATYCAA has to offer, it is the opportunity to get to know colleagues from across the nation. Whether it be mentor or mentee, the relationships you forge will be with you the rest of your life. Why would someone not want to take advantage of that opportunity?

Tell us something interesting or unique about yourself, that your peers might not know.
Something interesting about me that my peers might not know is that I went from coaching college basketball to becoming a college official. I worked all levels in collegiate athletics (NJCAA, NAIA, NCAA Division I, II, and III). What most people do not realize is officiating, especially at the DI level, takes as much time away from your family as coaching does.  Both had their ups and downs, but I would add that having done both affords me a perspective that most do not have.