Meet The GRIT Founder
20 Years Created Grit. One Mission.
Building Michigan’s Next Generation of Leaders.
The Founder’s Vision
With over 20 years of dedication as a coach, director, and advocate, I have witnessed a consistent truth: funded elite preparation builds successful community youth now, but more importantly, it builds better men we can count on tomorrow. From the early days with the Grand Rapids Youth Athletics Organization to the evolution of West Michigan American Youth Football and the Michigan Youth Football Classic, our mission has remained the same.
Over the decades, these platforms produced NFL and NBA athletes, collegiate coaches, and career professionals who lead many communities today. But as the landscape shifted, I saw a troubling trend: a lack of quality programming was closing the door to opportunity for our youth.
GRIT is the evolution of that mission. It is the bigger picture.
Coach Kevin Scott
Founder & Football Advocate
True Stories from the Sideline
The Manager: Dexter
I recently ran into a former player named Dexter. He’s now a successful restaurant manager. He told me, 'I wouldn't be who I am today without you, Coach. You kept me off the streets.' That day, he wouldn't let me pay for my meal. He said, 'I got you, Coach.'"
The Veteran: Kennedy
Kennedy, a 6'5" leader who captained our defense, stopped me at Meijer after three tours in the military and a career with the Postal Service. He thanked me for buying his equipment when he couldn't afford it and for holding him accountable for his grades. He said he owed me more than a thank you for simply caring.
The Reality: A Life Interrupted
"We can't save them all", but we must try. I remember a 4.0 GPA student we fought to protect from gang pressure, driving him home every night to keep him safe. The streets eventually won, and today he sits in a Michigan prison until 2035. This is why GRIT exists to be the lifeline that keeps the door to a positive life open."
The Evan’s Light Project
The Eternal Light: A Father’s Promise
Safety. Guidance. Prevention.
At the heart of GRIT Youth Community Works is the Evan’s Light Project. Established in honor of Evan Otte-Scott, this initiative serves as a protective beacon for every youth athlete in West Michigan. We ensure that no player walks their path alone, uninformed, or unprotected.
The Story of Evan’s Light. A Father’s Grief. A Founder’s Mission.
Evan was a young man of incredible heart and potential, but his journey was cut short. In the wake of losing him, I realized that the passion I poured into coaching for twenty years needed a deeper purpose. I realized that for every athlete I coached, there was a light inside them that needed to be protected, nurtured, and guided, the same way I sought to guide my own son.
Out of that pain, the Evan’s Light Project was born. It is the soul of our organization. When we talk about removing financial barriers, providing 'Skin in the Game' opportunities, and taking kids to college campuses, we are doing it in Evan’s name. We are ensuring that the light he carried continues to shine through the success of every young man and woman in our program.
Every time I walk onto a field or enter a boardroom to fight for our youth, I carry Evan with me. GRIT exists to make sure that for the children of West Michigan, the light of opportunity never goes out. We are turning our greatest loss into the community's greatest gain."
Why We Fight. Why We Educate Our Youth.
We don't just coach football; we defend futures. Through Evan’s legacy, we provide:
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Radical Honesty: We have the "hard talks" about fentanyl and counterfeit pills that others are too afraid to have.
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The Power of Mentorship: Surrounding our 8–13-year-olds with positive male role models who act as a shield against street influence.
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A Clear Path to College: We teach our youth that protecting their body and mind is the first step toward a collegiate scholarship.
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