Scott Pioli - Early Years

Early Years

Pioli grew up in Washingtonville, New York and attended Washingtonville High School, where he played linebacker and defensive line before graduating in 1983. Between 1983 and 1987 he attended Central Connecticut State University, graduating in 1988 with a degree in communications. He was a three-time Division II All-New England selection as a defensive tackle. In 2005, Central Connecticut inducted Pioli into their hall of fame. In 1988, after graduating with a degree in communications, he accepted a two-year graduate assistant position at Syracuse University, where he also earned a master's degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Pioli served as a graduate assistant with the Syracuse football team from 1988 to 1989. In 1990, he began a two-year stint at Murray State University as an offensive line coach in his first year (1990) and as a defensive line coach in his second year (1991).