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If Bill Belichick can go back to college, why can’t Scott Pioli?
One of the primary architects of the New England Patriots dynasty, Pioli is going to work for the University of Iowa, according to The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman.
“Iowa hired former Chiefs GM/Patriots executive Scott Pioli as preparation for revenue sharing and will continue to work with all of Iowa’s programs. Pioli has been at Iowa’s football practices previously and is close with football coach Kirk Ferentz,” Dochterman wrote.
“In addition, Iowa athletics will have a cap management structure that includes designated GMs for each program.”
Pioli’s talent evaluation as vice president of player personnel helped the Patriots launch their two decades of dominance, including three Super Bowl wins.
He left New England in 2009 to become general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pioli later worked for the Atlanta Falcons as assistant general manager (2014-2019). The Pro Football Writers of America named him its Executive of the Year three times (2003, 2007, 2010) while Sporting News twice gave Pioli its NFL Executive of the Year Award (2003, 2004).
Pioli will help Iowa navigate the rapidly-evolving college sports landscape with seismic changes coming after a federal judge last week approved the terms of a massive $2.8 billion antitrust settlement.
This deal clears the way for schools to directly pay players through licensing deals.
According to the Associated Press: “In Year 1, each school can share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes, a number that represents 22% of their revenue from things like media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships. … Because football and men’s basketball are the primary revenue drivers at most schools, and that money helps fund all the other sports, it stands to reason that the football and basketball players will get most of the money.”
Pioli’s relationship with Ferentz dates back to 1993, when both worked under Belichick when he was head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Ferentz coached the Browns’ offensive line (1993-1995), while Pioli was a pro personnel assistant (1992-1995).
The Browns fired Belichick after the 1995 season, but Ferentz and Pioli followed the franchise to Baltimore when it was re-christened as the Ravens in 1996.
Pioli’s college football roots date back to 1988, when he was a graduate assistant at Syracuse.
Following two seasons in upstate New York, Pioli spent two years coaching at Murray State (1990-91) before making the leap to the NFL when he joined Belichick in Cleveland in 1992.
