Michael Zyskowski

About Michael Zyskowski

I’m an educator, coach, and NFL scout with over 19 years of experience helping student-athletes grow in the classroom, on the field, and in life.I’ve worked across every level of competitive football—from launching a brand-new program at Old Dominion to mentoring walk-ons at UConn, and now evaluating NFL talent for the San Francisco 49ers. Whether I’m mentoring student-athletes, guiding families through the college process, or assessing a prospect’s character and potential, I’ve built my career around development, leadership, and discipline.As a former college coach and recruiting director, I’ve led large-scale recruiting operations, managed academic tracking systems, and collaborated with academic support, compliance, and admissions teams. My experience also includes time in the private sector, where I sharpened my communication, client service, and leadership skills while working in outside sales at Blueline Rental.Every step of the way, I’ve kept one goal in mind: to help students become leaders—athletically, academically, and personally. Whether coaching, teaching, evaluating, or building a program from the ground up, I thrive in roles where culture, development, and character come first.

Experience

1. Area Scout (College) Southwest Region

   San Francisco 49ers

   Jul 2024 — Present

   Evaluate NCAA football talent across key territories (TX, LA, AR, MS, NM, Memphis)•Report on athletic performance, leadership, and academic readiness•Collaborate with college coaches and NFL front office to support draft strategy

Education

• University of Maine

  Landscape Horticulture, Design Emphasis

  2001 — 2006

• Union High School

  High School, General Studies

  1994 — 1998

• Grand Rapids Community College

  Associate's degree, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

  1999 — 2001

Skills

• Nonprofits
• Community Outreach
• Higher Education
• Microsoft Office
• Recruiting
• Staff Development
• Student Development
• Football
• Microsoft Word
• Leadership
• Athletic Training
• Youth Mentoring
• Sports
• Student Affairs
• Curriculum Design
• Evaluations
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Academic Advising
• College Recruiting
• Editing
• Program Management
• Teaching
• Time Management
• Athletics
• Facebook
• Team Building
• Program Development
• Academic Program Management
• Research
• Curriculum Development
• Event Planning
• Fundraising
• Mentoring
• Sports Coaching
• Statistics
• Coaching
• Event Management
• Nutrition
• Social Networking