It’s all about balance, and Coleman Scott knows all about that.

 

In his first season of coaching at North Carolina, (where he is now the interim head coach) the former Oklahoma State Cowboy has his alter egos of coach, competitor and dad completely under control. And he doesn’t let one overtake the other.

 

Scott has had the pleasure of being around the most talented wrestlers and coaches since his years as a young Pennsylvania wrestler at Waynesburg all through his years as wrestler and coach at OK. State under the legendary John Smith. And it’s those experiences that have made him the presence he is today whether he’s in the chair or toeing the line against the world’s best.

 

“When I’m in the room as a coach, that’s exactly what I am and nothing more,” Scott said. “I’m always learning, but I make sure that I am coach first when it’s my guy’s time to work. Now when it’s my time I’m selfish about getting the best work I can get.”

 

Even though he has it together now, it wasn’t always easy to make the transition between coach and competitor on a day-to-day basis.

 

“It’s a lot of early mornings and late nights,” said Scott. “You’ve got to make sure that you get your workout’s and your guys are getting their workouts in. I don’t just want to be average at anything. I still want to be the best in the world. So it’s a lot of hours and with a wife and two kids as well that I want to be there for as much as I can it’s a long day. But in the end it will be worth it.”
 

             
 

Over the last few months of competition he’s definitely had some ups and downs on the mat. At the World Cup he did not have the performance that we are used to seeing from the Olympic Bronze Medalists. Then at the ASICS U.S. Open it wasn’t much of a favorable performance either. But all of it just adds fuel to his fire as a wrestler and provides teachable moments as a coach.

 

“I like to use myself as an example a lot with what to do right and what to do wrong,” he said. “I can tell those guys, ‘this is what you can’t do, look at me. This is what happens when you do this. When you take this approach this is what happens.’ It’s not just me preaching it, I go out there and I took some losses and they see that. I don’t want to contradict myself and tell them they can’t do something then go out and do it. So it all helps whether I’m coaching or competing.”

 

But now it’s time to lace ‘em up and for another chance to prove that his sacrifices have paid off and that he’s made the adjustments from the last time he was on the mat in Las Vegas about a month ago.

 

“I feel good. I feel great actually going into the (World Team Trials),” Scott said. “In a season you need about 10 to 12 matches before you really get your timing and your feel back and that’s about where I’m at now. I might be at 15 matches or so for this freestyle season, and I feel like my timing and everything is getting back.”

“And I need those matches,” he continued. “I’m not a guy that can step out there that wins all the time and I know that. But I love the competition. It’s helped me refocus and simplify things and it’s no secret that the more you simplify things the more successful you become. So I feel great and I’m ready to go make a world team.”