In the lifetime of most Americans, moving across the country is not an option. Central Washington University’s newest coach has the power to make such a move, and hopes to bring power to CWU’s defense.

Defensive Coordinator Scott Power hadn’t been beyond Denver in his collegiate and professional life before coming to CWU this spring. This was one of the driving forces behind why he accepted the defensive coordinator position.

“That was part of the interest [in moving],” he said. “My kids are young, so it’s a good time in my personal life for my family to make a move.”

Power joins CWU after spending time at Marian University, where the team went to the NAIA National Championship game in 2014 and 2015, and winning in 2015.

He is known for having a stout defense. In 2015, Marian ranked first in rushing defense and total sacks, second in scoring defense and third in total defense in the NAIA.

Power, a Fowler, Indiana native, spent most of his life in his home state. He played two years at Hanover College in Indiana, after transferring from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he was a two-year starter.

He then spent time over four years in the European Football League and the Arena Football League before embarking on his coaching-career.

His first stop was at Benton Central High School in Benton County, Indiana, for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. After his time at Benton Central, Power then made the move to Wartburg College. In 2012, Power and his defense held opponents to a single-season school record for fewest rushing yards allowed per game, which led to his job at Marian starting in the 2013 season.

After three seasons at Marian, Power felt he was ready for the next step.

“When the phone call came, I felt like we had accomplished the goals that we wanted to accomplish at Marian,” Power said. “Researching the tradition of Central Washington football…You can have a lot of success here.”

A common-connection led Power to his opportunity at CWU. He was brought to Wartburg as a replacement for Jim Louis, whom Power had kept in contact with.

Power attended camps at Louis’ alma mater, St. Cloud State University, where Louis went to coach the team’s defense. Louis coached alongside an offensive coordinator hired on the same day as him, Ian Shoemaker, CWU’s current head football coach.

Through his connection with Louis, Power met Shoemaker at St. Cloud State at a camp in 2009, which helped lead to Power’s job at CWU.

Coach Shoemaker stands by his decision to hire Power after the way implementation has gone through spring practice.

“It was a great move to get [Power] out here,” Shoemaker said. “We targeted three or four candidates, and we talked to a lot of people who knew him and knew it was a good connection to build this defense and this program.”

Power brings with him a defense termed as a “4-2 Nickel,” which is different than former CWU defensive coordinator Payam Saadat’s “bear” front.

The “4-2 Nickel” is a defense that requires techniques and assignments that are atypical of most defenses run at the high school and collegiate levels, but is seeing more and more use in successful NCAA Division I and NFL defenses.

Winslow Kouassi, senior defensive end, likes what he and the team are getting out of working in Power’s system.

“Coach Power brings in a great system,” Kouassi said. “As far as the mentality of it, it’s an aggressive defense and it’s a disciplined defense. You have to be able to keep up with it. He’s making us more mentally tough by challenging us every day.”

While not coaching, Power has been spending time with his wife and three children, exploring their new home-state.

“Me and my wife thought this place was beautiful,” Power said. “It’s got mountains, it’s got water, it’s got lakes. It’s dry, but it’s a very pretty place.”