NSCA Foundation Announces the Markus Paul Memorial Scholarship

Colorado Springs, CO – The NSCA Foundation is honored to announce the creation of the Markus Paul Memorial Scholarship.

Markus Paul spent 23 years coaching strength & conditioning in the National Football League. He served as the first assistant for 20 of those years with the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys. He held the Director’s position for 3 years of his career with the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. Over the span of his career, Markus earned 5 Super Bowl rings, 3 with the Patriots and 2 with the Giants.

Coach Paul had an extensive work ethic that stemmed from his playing days as a defensive Safety for Syracuse University. After redshirting as a freshman, Markus was a starter for all 4 of his eligible years. He set the school’s all-time interception record at 19 in 1988; a record that still stands today. He was twice named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, and earned First Team All-American honors his senior year. In October 1999, he was named to the Syracuse University's All-Century team. While at the Dallas Cowboys facility, Markus Paul experienced a pulmonary embolism. He went to be with his Lord on November 25, 2020 at the age of 54.

This scholarship was created by the New York Giants, close friends and family of Markus. The scholarship will assist in the development of Black American coaches in the Strength & Conditioning profession. Each year a $2,000 tuition scholarship will be awarded to a Black American student preparing to coach in the Strength & Conditioning profession.

Specific Requirements:

1. Complete the application to its full entirety (see attached Scholarship application)
2. Current Student at the time of application and award with black American heritage
3. Undergraduate (Junior or Senior), or Graduate student enrolled in Physical Education, Exercise Science, Strength & Conditioning, or similar major with the goal of becoming a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the collegiate or professional level.
4. Is not a current member of the NSCA Foundation Board of Directors, Scholarship Committee, serve as a Scholarship Reviewer, NSCA Board of Directors, NSCA/NSCA Foundation affiliate employee or employee's family member.

Scholarship applications will be reviewed by the NSCA Foundation’s Coaching Advancement & Assistantship Committee members. Members of the Committee are all Strength & Conditioning Coaches who hold a CSCS.

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About the National Strength & Conditioning Association Foundation
The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation (NSCAF) was founded in 2007 with the aim of supporting the advancement of strength and conditioning practical applications. The NSCA Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing funding to NSCA members taking part in educational and research endeavors.

Since its establishment, the NSCA Foundation has awarded 185 grants and 537 scholarships, totaling over $3 million to outstanding individuals within the strength and conditioning community. The NSCA Foundation is one of the few foundations that fund work at the Master’s level and across all levels up to senior investigators, as well as one of the few sources that funds work in the strength and conditioning fields. A major goal of the foundation is to continue to maximize assets in order to increase grants and scholarships for NSCA members.