PROFILE

In this edition of the SportsField Management Interview , we speak with Jeremy Driscoll , CSFM , grounds supervisor at St . Mark ’ s High School in Wilmington , Delaware . Driscoll serves the SFMA Board of Directors as Director — Schools K-12 ; and is also a co-founder of the Mid-Atlantic SFMA Chapter , where he is past president .

SportsField Management ( SFM ): You graduated from St . Mark ’ s — the high school at which you now work — in 1995 . Please tell me a bit about your background and what has given you such strong ties to the community and the school . Jeremy Driscoll , CSFM : I began my working career in high school working for my best friend ’ s parents at Feby ’ s Fishery in Wilmington , Delaware . I wouldn ’ t be where I am today without that experience , as it taught me responsibilities , work ethic , punctuality , teamwork and general life skills .

After trying to figure out what I wanted to do and / or who I wanted to work for , traveling and living in a few different areas , I wound up in a car accident , which led me back to Delaware . While working as an arborist for the county , I was passed up for promotions and was told by my supervisor that I would never make it there as I was overeducated and overqualified .

A job was posted for a position at my alma mater , Saint Mark ’ s High School , and I applied . I honestly thought I would just be cutting grass , but it turned out there was a whole lot more to do in my title role as ground ’ s supervisor . I created a vision for what I wanted the grounds to become ; and with the help of my small team we improve things on a daily basis .

SFM : You studied Urban Tree Management at Paul Smith ’ s College , and then General Ag at University of Delaware . What influenced that career path ?

Driscoll : I applied to two 2-year schools , and one was Paul Smith ’ s College . At the time there were really only two options for me — forestry or culinary — and I chose forestry . After completing my associate degree I still wasn ’ t quite ready for a career job and needed to burn off some steam and carve some mountains , so I headed back to Colorado and worked for the municipality plowing snow and attaining my CDL . I knew that if I wanted to earn a bachelor ’ s degree I had to go back to school , and the logical option for me was to return to Delaware . When I began at the University of Delaware , I was going to earn my degree in Elementary Education , but was advised to change majors and I graduated with a degree in General Ag .

22 SportsField Management | September 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com