Next Woman Up: Ashton Washington, Player Personnel Coordinator for the Chicago Bears

Subsequent factor , I am packing my luggage and shifting to Champaign, Illinois. I went by means of a season with Coach Smith earlier than he was let go. I used to be there for an additional two months after which the brand new head coach cleaned home, which is regular on this enterprise. I had to return to the drafting board once more, however if you’d like one thing, you simply do not cease. Soccer is addicting, and I could not keep away.

I obtained a number of job provides, however they weren’t the best match. I ultimately took the director of recruiting of operations and artistic content material at Texas Tech with head soccer coach Matt Wells. Then whereas I am there, I randomly obtained a cellphone name from somebody saying, “Would you be all for a possibility with the Chicago Bears?” They did not inform me their identify, so I believed it was a prank name at first. I answered the decision in the midst of a busy day, and so they have been asking me all these questions. I requested if I may give them a name again, and earlier than I hung up, he informed me his identify was Champ Kelly, who was the assistant director of participant personnel for the Bears (2017-2021) earlier than becoming a member of the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant normal supervisor.

I ended up reaching out to Sam Rapoport, who had beforehand invited me to be a part of the Ladies’s Careers in Soccer Discussion board, to assist get his contact. I used to be in a position to arrange a name with Champ, and the following factor I do know, I used to be into the following spherical of interviews for the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship. I needed to get permission from Matt Wells to pursue this chance, and he gave me the inexperienced mild and stated, “I will see you while you get again.”

I spent the summer season in Chicago and stayed by means of coaching camp, and I used to be additionally doing my Texas Tech job throughout camp. On the finish of the fellowship, I used to be provided this job with the Bears. Coach Wells wished me to remain at Texas Tech, however understood I needed to do what was greatest for me. I selected the Chicago Bears, and I have been right here since.

What does your present job entail?

Oh my! How do I sum this job up? I’ve to be a jack of all trades as a result of I am engaged on the faculty and professional facet of scouting. In my thoughts, I all the time must maintain these two areas separate, however always flip forwards and backwards as a result of additionally they intersect. Being proactive, disciplined and staying organized are some key parts of this job.

With the NFL Scouting Mix on the finish of this month, I’m the one who’s coordinating the entire journey for our employees. I additionally schedule the top-30 prospect visits, in addition to participant visits throughout free company. Free of charge company, we get along with the professional employees, watch movie and work out which free brokers we need to pursue this offseason. As soon as now we have an inventory and I get the inexperienced mild from normal supervisor Ryan Poles, I’m the purpose one that brings gamers in, books the journey and will get every little thing arrange with our scouting assistants to satisfy with the gamers as soon as they arrive.

The primary factor with my job is being a fantastic communicator, and I am rising and getting higher at it on a regular basis. It’s a must to maintain each division within the loop, whether or not that is on the enterprise facet, the overall supervisor, assistant GM, teaching, coaching and tools employees, and so forth.

What would you say is probably the most difficult a part of your job?

Proper now, I am in an excellent place. Studying scouting language and terminology was difficult at first. I’ve all the time been round soccer, however coaches interpret issues in another way than scouts. It’s a problem studying put what I am seeing on movie into phrases scouts are accustomed to — like determining say “He is huge. He is quick. He is robust.” in scout-speak. We’ve open communication the place we will all really feel snug asking questions. No one is judging anybody else, so it is a good atmosphere to study and be in.