SCOT RUGGLES

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your outstanding speech at our Athletic Director Summit at Indian Hill this summer.

Your insightful discussion on mental illness was both enlightening and deeply moving. You addressed a critical issue with compassion and expertise, offering practical advice and fostering a greater understanding of the challenges faced by athletes.

Your words resonated with many of us and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on how we approach mental health in our programs.

Thank you for your dedication and for sharing your invaluable perspective with us.

#WinYourMindWinYourFreedom

I want to personally thank Mr. Ruggles for visiting the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on March 26, 2024. In TDCJ our Mission is to provide public safety, promote positive change in the inmate's behavior, and assist victims of crime. In the Rehabilitation Programs Division, we look for "Change Agents'' to visit our programs and bring hope to the incarcerated men and women and encourage them to better their lives. In my nearly 30 years of working in corrections, I've witnessed ve1y few guest speakers who could come into a prison and captivate the inmates like Scot Ruggles.

His currency in front of the audience was his infectious energy, his authentic vulnerability, and
his ability to use storytelling to relate life lessons from the worlds of Hollywood and sports.

I highly recommend Scot for any speaking engagement and look forward to hosting him again in
the great State of Texas. (read original letter here)

Scot Ruggles is a man of extreme character with excellent leadership skills and creative instincts.
His ability to put people together/build teams and projects is extraordinary.
Whether coaching/producing or inspiring people to work hard and be better.
Scot is someone I'm proud to collaborate with and call him a friend.

I had the privilege of working alongside Scot at Harvard-Westlake. He had an unmistakable presence on campus and earned universal respect for his work ethic. He held his players, and his coaches, to an extraordinarily high standard. As a young administrator adjusting to a new environment, I was inspired by the manner in which he approached his work, his integrity, and his unrelenting commitment to his players' lives off the field.

Students in Scot's program looked up to him as a mentor. I've always felt a mentor isn't someone who tells you what to do, but someone who shows you how to be. Scot showed his players that they could be unapologetically authentic to themselves. Not only has he coached at some of the most celebrated academic institutions in the country (both at the high school and college level), but he's done this while pursuing his passion for the arts as a film and television actor and producer. As high school students wrestle with questions of identity or ponder which of their passions they want to pursue, Scot's story reminds them they hold the power to chart their own path. He's a dynamic speaker with an inspiring message.

I have worked with Scot Ruggles for years. Scot has proven that he is a Leader of teams and builder of culture. His innovative perspective on life and performance is a valued skill set for any organization. I look forward continuing our relationship in building elite teams.