ATHENS, Ga. — When Kelee Ringo returned a pick-six in the final minute of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 10, it cemented a career day for Richmond County native Scott Sinclair.
Not only did the University of Georgia Bulldogs win the program’s first title since 1980, but Sinclair also found out hours before the game that he’d been named the 2021 FootballScoop Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.
A 1995 graduate of Richmond Senior High School who played football and baseball for the Raiders, Sinclair wrapped up his fifth season as UGA’s strength and conditioning coach with a 33-18 win over No. 1 Alabama.
Redeeming a 17-point loss to the Crimson Tide from the SEC championship game on Dec. 4, the No. 3 Bulldogs outscored Alabama 27-9 in the second half. Ringo’s interception that was returned 79 yards for a touchdown is what finally gave Sinclair the feeling that the national title was clinched.
“Until that interception, we knew that with our history with Alabama, it wasn’t over till it was over,” Sinclair, who grew up in Rockingham, said. “We didn’t want to believe it until (Ringo) got the interception and scored.
“I was there with Coach (Kirby) Smart yelling for him to get down, but then he scored and that’s when the feeling came over me that we had won. It was nice to finally win a National Championship.”
As the red and white confetti rained down inside of Lucas Oil Stadium, Sinclair celebrated the momentous occasion with his wife Farrah and their two children. For Sinclair, that was one of the best parts of the whole experience.
“As a coach, you and your family sacrifice a lot,” he said. “But at that moment when my family ran onto the field and my daughter yelled ‘Dad we did it,’ that part made it all worth it.”
Sinclair also considers the players he works with in the weight room to be members of his family. Following the loss to Alabama in December, Sinclair said the Bulldogs went back to work and lifted really hard to prepare for the Orange Bowl against No. 2 Michigan, which they beat 34-11.
Getting back to the National Championship game was something he and the team were familiar with, having also made it following the 2017 season, Sinclair’s first in Athens.
Like any championship-caliber football program, the Bulldogs began their preparation last spring and summer. This year, players and coaches at Georgia had the No. 15 on their minds — the total number of wins they wanted to get to finish the season 15-0.
Although the one loss to the Crimson Tide put a ripple in that plan, Sinclair and the Bulldogs continued to work hard in the weight room.
“One of the best parts is that we’re all a family,” Sinclair said. “The amount of time we spend with our players day to day, from early mornings to late nights, it’s rewarding to see all the hard work put in.
“And to see the smiles on all of the players’ faces, it showed that all of the sacrifices paid off. A workout we did back in the summer was 15 stadium stairs because we wanted to play and win 15 games.”
As the strength and conditioning coach, Sinclair explained that his role is often the one that wears the most hats in the building.
“Of course we want our players to become bigger, faster and stronger, and we work on preventing injuries,” Sinclair noted. “But behind the scenes I can be a psychologist, a second father or somebody players can sit down and talk to.
“My job allows me to be so much more than a guy who gets players big and strong. I help them grow as men, help with school work, and am involved with and around the players more than most of the other coaches.”
Sinclair also said there are times when he’s a disciplinarian, but enjoys the challenge of figuring out ways “to get these guys to do different things and let them know you love them.”
The Sandhills region was well represented in the National Championship, as Georgia running back Zamir White graduated from Scotland High School in 2018. In the title bout, White rushed for 84 yards on 13 carries and scored a touchdown in the third quarter.
To have his hometown area represented on the field and on the coaching staff was special for Sinclair.
“I thought that was really cool,” Sinclair commented. “Zamir and I would talk about how huge the Richmond and Scotland rivalry game is. He was my North Carolina guy since so many of our players aren’t from there.
“To have Zamir here and help him grow and be successful on the field feels really good. He was very quiet when he got here but he became a really good leader for us, and it was really special for us (to win together).”
Hours before kickoff, Sinclair was hanging out in his hotel room when he received a text message from former college football coach George O’Leary. In the message, O’Leary, who Sinclair had worked for at the University of Central Florida, wished him good luck and said congratulations.
That’s when Sinclair found out that he’d been named the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by FootballScoop, a “premiere source for coaching job information” since 1999, according to its website.
“I hadn’t heard from Coach O’Leary in a while, and he congratulated me on the award,” Sinclair said. “Anytime you can be recognized by your peers in your profession is pretty cool. A lot of other strength coaches deserve it, too.”
In May 2012, Sinclair was awarded the highest honor in his profession when he became certified as a master strength and conditioning coach (MSCC) at a national conference.
One of Sinclair’s game day roles, which he has done at various colleges in his 23-year career, is to help keep the head coach in check during the four quarters of play.
He said that Smart “gets really excited and coaches with great passion,” so there have been times where Sinclair has had to get him back on the sideline.
Sinclair added that Smart “keeps me on my toes and there is never a slow moment,” and that he tries to do his job to the best of his ability.
“The time in Indy was great, and not many people realize the hype and pageantry of the National Championship Game,” Sinclair said. “It’s different from a regular bowl game, and to be there, be a part of it and win it was a really unbelievable and special experience.
“Growing up in Richmond County, it’s a special place. I still have a lot of good friends there,” he closed. “Playing at Richmond for Hal Shuler helped me a lot. Todd Hagler lit a fire under me and Brian David was an instrumental coach. Anytime you go back and think about the guys who helped you, you want to point that out.”
