Jimmy Nguyen – Olympic Skeleton Fundraising Page

If you’re a current Endicott student-athlete and balancing school work, internship, practice, and games, you’re probably wondering what your post-graduation life will be like and if all the hard work you’re putting now is going to be worth it. Maybe you’re a prospective student-athlete in high school and thinking about whether Endicott is the right place for you or maybe you’re an alumnus of the College interested to find out what classmates are up to. Whatever your angle is, we’ve got insight into the whereabouts and happenings of some of our favorite Endicott student-athlete alumni.

This week, we got in touch with a recent football alum who has aspirations to represent his country in the Winter Olympic Games. Former wide out Jimmy Nguyen was recently invited to join the USA Development program for Olympic Skeleton, a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down. Racing down a track which can look similar to luge or bobsled, a skeleton rider experiences forces up to 5 g and reaches speeds over 80 miles per hour. After appearances in the winter games in 1928 and 1948, skeleton was added to the Olympic program in 2002 and has been growing in popularity ever since.

Nguyen, an exercise science major during his four years at Endicott from 2008-13 with physical education and strength & conditioning internship experience, submitted his athletic resume and received an invitation to a week-long sliding school in March of this year. After sliding school, Nguyen got a call from USA Development coach Don Hass who gave him an official invite to train at the Olympic Training Center for his rookie season.

The funding a non-sponsored athlete needs to be completely prepared for the demands of Olympic skeleton is surprisingly costly. In total, a single rider may need anywhere between $16,000 and $23,000 to cover the equipment, lodging, travel, food, and training costs for a rookie season. Nguyen has set up a fundraising page where family, friends, and supporters can contribute towards his goal of raising $10,000.

During his football career at Endicott, Nguyen was a part the program’s first NEFC Championship in 2010 and back-to-back ECAC North Atlantic Bowl victories in 2011 and 2012. He caught a career-high 37 passes for 404 yards in his senior season and added three rushes for 15 yards, including his lone collegiate touchdown on senior day against MIT.

Jimmy Nguyen, B.S. in Exercise Science ’13, M.S. Athletic Administration ‘14 
Sport: Football, Wide Receiver
Hometown / High School: Methuen, Mass. / Central Catholic
Current Employer & Job Title: Central Catholic Football & Track Coach; Dracut Public Schools Substitute

How did your major, classes, professors, and education at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?              

All of the classes I took at Endicott, whether they were physical education-based or not, gave me insight on what I would see in the workplace. The things that I learned in the classroom, I have found useful when I'm coaching or substitute teaching. I’ve learned how to communicate with students to better explain things and help them understand what I'm trying to teach them.

What internships did you participate in at Endicott?

Donald P. Timony Grammar School (physical education), Central Catholic High School (physical education and athletic department), and Mike Boyles Strength and Conditioning, Athletic Evolution

How did your internships at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?

During my internships I was able to gain insight on what I wanted to do after graduation. It helped me further my knowledge about different career paths and what I could do. I learned techniques that I still use today in teaching and coaching athletes in the weight room and on the field.

Jimmy Nguyen was a part of three banner-raising teams from 2009-12

What were some of your most memorable experiences as a student-athlete at Endicott?

Winning the first conference championship against Maine Maritime my sophomore year, scoring my first career touchdown against MIT, and getting a 15-yard penalty for my celebration which I still stand by today. Lastly just being with the team day-in and day-out whether it was practice, team meetings, film, or hanging out. Those are memories that will last forever.

Are you still playing your sport either competitively or recreationally? If so, in what capacity?

I am currently in the USA Development program for Olympic Skeleton.

Do you maintain contact with Endicott or athletic department (i.e. communication with former coach, Alumni Association, Young Alumni)? If so, how are you still involved with Endicott?

I text a lot of the guys on game days and to see how things are going just to wish them luck. It’s nice to see the guys who were sophomores when I was a senior do well as a team and individually. I'll stop by and talk to coaches when I can as well.

Do you have any additional post-graduation accomplishments you would like to highlight?

Winning the MIAA Division 1 Football State championship in my first year coaching football and starting the first-ever strength and conditioning camp at Central Catholic where I trained football, soccer, softball, basketball, lacrosse, and other athletes.