Scott Biglin: From successful quarterback to unwavering mentor - and championship coach

Biglin won a WIAA football title as current coach at Kamiakin High School, but the winning never gets in the way of connecting with players

KENNEWICK, Wash. - The position of quarterback is glorified in many ways.

It's the position that sets the tone for the success of a team. It's the face of both the success and the failures. It's synonymous with leadership.

The qualities of how to play quarterback - being one - taught Scott Biglin how to be successful as a player - and now as a coach.

However, Biglin sees that those same qualities  are transferable skills to both sports and life as has found success as a multi-sport coach, a father and husband, as well as a mentor.

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BIGLIN'S BACKGROUND

Biglin played quarterback for Pasco High School under former coaches John Morgan and Steve Graff - and won a ton of games as a multi-year starter.

After graduating, Biglin went on to start three years at quarterback at Whitworth College. He was also a four-year baseball starter in college. Fitting for the Tri-Cities, the mentality of being an insatiable underdog is woven into his being.

"That always been me," Biglin said. "I've always been a guy that never was good enough so I work my butt off to try to get better. That's kind of what drives me as a player and a coach."

Biglin's playing days are long gone, but his approach as a quarterback has helped him find a lot of success. Now, he is best known for his electric offense with the Kamiakin football program. He's always known he wanted to be a coach after being mentored by Andy Troxel.

"I knew I wanted to always be involved in the game," Biglin said. "I have the greatest gig."

Biglin was a math teacher when he entered the coaching scene, first at Southridge and then Kiona-Benton High School.

He was hired to lead Kamiakin in 2009 after Craig Beverlin stepped down. Quarterback Joey Janson was a sophomore when Biglin took over, eventually going on to play baseball at Oregon State University.

The Braves lost in the state championship to Bellevue his senior year.

"That whole season was pretty special," said Jansen, who two years later lost in the Class 3A title game to Bellevue. "One of my favorite memories that I think about all the time is a tradition I had with Biglin. Before every game, we would go out and play catch before the real warm-ups started. It would get me ready for the game every night."

Now in his 16th season at the helm, Biglin led Kamiakin to the Class 4A semifinals in 2021, losing to Graham-Kapowsin. And he has the program in good position in these state playoffs as the No. 6 seed, hosting Emerald Ridge in the first round Friday night at Lampson Stadium.

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FINDING SUCCESS AND PURPOSE

While the personnel changes with the graduation of high school players, its Biglin's mindset and approach that is a constant.

Part of the perennial powerhouse's success is the leadership qualities that Biglin exposes. He teaches every kid how to flourish, even guide, in their respective roles.

Whether it's football, baseball, or even bowling, Biglin wants to win.

"I want to compete. I want to win. You can ask my wife. She hardly wants to play me in cards. I don't know if that's a good thing. If its a fault I have, it's a pretty big fault, but that's just who I am."

Most coaches spend their whole career chasing success, but in 2016, Biglin and the Braves raised a 3A state trophy, the first in Kennewick football history.

"It was very special. I've come close so many times," Biglin said. "You get there and you never know if you're ever going to get back."

That 2016 season was critical for Biglin in establishing a legacy. He realized his process for winning, while building trust, worked.

"It was a pretty cool moment that you know the words you speak to kids sticks with them," Biglin said. "When I first started, it was all about winning. I was so afraid I would get fired or have people bad-mouthing me in the community.

"As time goes by, I focus more on the relationships that I build with the players and the coaches and make sure that kids know that football is a guide for life. I realized this has to be my focus as a coach"

It took a state championship for Biglin to realize that winning was just a side effect of process. The score takes care of itself.

"I'm on the other side of that," Jansen said. "We had such high expectations we put on ourselves and from him being such a new coach. It was devastating losing in the state championship, but it's cool for me to see that our team was part of Biglin building that process."

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Photo courtesy of Kamiakin athletics

COACHING STYLE

Zach Borisch was the quarterback during Kamiakin's historic season - one that ended with a 14-7 overtime win over O'Dea for the WIAA title.

It was clear that Biglin forged special connections with his quarterbacks.

"I had a lot of Biglin time," said Borisch, laughing. "He's that players' coach that you want nowadays. The thing that sticks out about him the most is how he can drive you individually knowing how you work as a person."

As a players' coach, Biglin caters to the needs of every player and his/her unique ability. This comes in many forms. He will shape the playbook around around players from year to year according to his former quarterbacks. He will spend time in his off hours if a player needs someone to talk to. When it comes to motivation, some need to be yelling at. For Borisch, motivation came in the form of silence.

"For me, when Biglin was upset," said Borisch, who is still playing at East Tennessee State University after an earlier career at Idaho, "he always gave me the cold shoulder. He would take off his hat and shake his head. He knew that got to me the most.

"I hated feeling that I was disappointing the coach. Other players he would be more direct. It's one of those funny things now looking back at it."

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TEACHING EVERY KID TO BE A QUARTERBACK

While Biglin exemplifies and teaches the qualities of a quarterback, there's only one quarterback. His process is to build leaders in the locker room.

"You need different personalities in a football team," Borisch said.. "Outside of noticing your physical capabilities, he notices the more special abilities of your personality and how you are as a leader. That's not something every coach notices. I think that's important for building a good program. He did that really well with me and other players."

It's tough to exemplify this point talking to just his former quarterbacks. Their relationship is almost like a being son to Biglin.

However, the best example of this is in his actual son and daughter.

Biglin's son, Landon is a junior offensive lineman for Kamiakin. Being the coach's kid, perceived favoritism is often associated with the territory, especially as a quarterback.

Landon took that out of the equation when he decided his role would be in the trenches.

"It was the best day of my life," said Biglin with a hint of sarcasm. "It was such a relief. When he came to me and said I want to put my hand in the mud and start pushing people around, I said, 'Perfect.'"

Biglin doesn't coach his son. He trusts his coaches, especially Braves' offensive line assistant Jon Murbach.

However, Biglin established the leadership groundwork for his son to find success. Landon earned all-4A/3A Mid-Columbia Conference first-team honors as a junior at center.

"He's the quarterback on the line," Biglin said.. "He calls protections on the line because he's been with dad for 16-17 years of listening to what we do. It's great to have him out there because he's a great guy and teammate. I'm very proud of him."

Most know Biglin as the football coach. Some know him as a baseball coach. Not many know him as the Braves girl's bowling coach or an avid bowler.

Bowling became a passion in connecting with his daughter Melia, who graduated in 2022.

Biglin became the bowling coach in Melia's senior year and guided the Braves to a third-place team finish at last year's state tournament in 2023, which boasted 4A medalist Hayden Bennett.

That was the first hardware for girls bowling in Kamiakin history.

"I think it's one of the coolest things I've ever heard," said Jansen, who was unaware his former coach led the girls bowling program. "It's so impressive and goes to show his character. He's not just a football coach. He's also a teacher. He's a great dad. To be able to transfer that into a different sport, it shows his leadership qualities and gives him opportunities to cross paths with more students."

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BLOSSOMING LEGACY

It's tough to talk about a legacy when the full path hasn't been paved, and Biglin doesn't plan on passing the baton anytime soon.

"I still feel like I have a lot to learn," Biglin said. "I'm looking down at our four graders and can see myself sticking around for them, but I'll know when it's my time. But right now, I love what I do. I don't see myself stopping anytime soon."

Walking the line between finding success on the field and using his position to change young adults lives is where Biglin is at in his career. It's a line that Biglin admits he's constantly testing - and crossing.

"For me, he instilled a lot of leadership qualities in me," Jansen said. "Him leading by example and setting the tone every day of the attitude he wanted from us and his open-door policy. Having a mentor that I could go to about football or life is something I've tried to carry after school and my career."

Which is something Biglin aims to do.

"I don't want my legacy to just be about winning games," he said. "I want it to be about changing kids' lives for the better."

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Photo courtesy of Kamiakin athletics