Scott James Snelson

Scott was born on December 29, 1959 in Long Beach, CA. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University, and went on to become the inaugural President of Tooele Applied Technology College in 2009. He had three children in his first marriage with Luann Elliott: Daniel, Kristi, and Samantha. In 2006, he married LesLee Snelson (née Taylor) and became stepfather to Jayla and Kylie.

A curly-haired ginger with a winning smile, Scott grew up on the coasts of Oregon and California. For his boundless energy and knack for mischief, his mother Jean lovingly anointed him with his first nickname: “Taz,” short for Tasmanian Devil. A whirlwind of talent, he quickly became an unstoppable force on the soccer pitch. He loved to tell the story of demonstrating his full back-flip scissor-kicks to a packed audience before competitive matches in Mexico. His dedication to the sport led to a starring role as the captain of his team at BYU, where he was publicly profiled as the “Danny Ainge of soccer.” He went on to become a finalist for the 1984 US Olympic team, followed by a professional run with the Minnesota Strikers (until the NASL league folded), and then anchored the legendary semi-professional indoor team, The Salt Eaters, for nearly a decade before he traded in his captain’s band for the coach’s whistle.

He loved the sport throughout his life, and shared the lessons of the game as both coach and mentor, changing the lives of untold players and students. With soccer, as with all things, his oft-repeated refrains continue to reverberate: “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” Coaching at Roy High School, he may perhaps be best remembered for making it into the Guinness Book of World Records for organizing (and playing in!) the longest soccer match ever recorded: one continuous game for 75.5 hours. While he coached many teams and a variety of sports, he was particularly proud of creating the F. C. Pride youth competitive soccer club in Northern Utah. Leading his son’s team to state and national championships remained a highlight of his coaching career. But his coaching mentality was never just about the game—rather, the game was always a metaphor for life. He inspired all those around him to achieve greatness, both personal and collective, to overcome the odds and win the day. For Scott, there was—as he liked to say—“no try, only do.”

And he did a lot. Namely, whatever he set his mind to. He began his career in education as a sports medicine teacher and coach at Roy High. From there, his ascent was meteoric. He leapt into the position of State Specialist at the Utah State Office of Education. He was then appointed to the role of Vice President of Student Services at Mountainland Applied Technology College. Finally, Scott went on to become the first and founding President of Tooele Applied Technology College (TATC) in 2009. Under his visionary leadership, TATC’s new award-winning facility became a major force for economic development in Tooele County. In his own words on his retirement from TATC, he marked this work in gratitude: “Thanks for the opportunity, trust, memorable experiences and delightful journey.”

Today, the Scott and LesLee Snelson Conference Room at TATC commemorates his foundational contributions to the College. A roster of awards and accolades attests to Scott’s extraordinary impact in his field. As Chair of the National Consortium on Health Science Education, Scott was the recipient of the “Outstanding Leadership” Award from the U.S. Department of Labor, “Arch of Fame” Award from the National Association for Career and Technical Education, and a “NCHSE Lifetime Membership” Award. However, for Scott, the greatest awards were always the relationships he built along the way—from the joy of inside jokes (which he seemed to share with literally every single person he knew!) to the depths of lifelong friendships—he treasured these connections above all else.

Beyond all this, his primary dedication was always to his home and to his family. The enormity of his support defies description. Perhaps the line—“If you need me, I’ll come a-runnin’”—best encapsulates his spirit. And it was true, whether that meant driving across the country at the drop of a hat or simply dropping everything else to go hang a shelf. Building domestic bliss with his wife LesLee was Scott’s obsession and highest art form. He always (always!) had a grand new project in the works: an extraordinary fence, a magnificent deck, a horseshoe pit, a woodworking studio. Invention met perspiration in his backyard, locally known in West Valley as a “Garden of Eden,” where he hosted elaborate themed parties with his wife, LesLee, for all of their various communities. Most prominent among these was an annual “BOBs Bash” in honor of his mother-in-law, Sandra McCauley—an event all involved would eagerly mark on their calendars each year—ranging from “BOBpocalypse” (a Mad Max themed romp) to “BOBstock” (a backyard recreation of Woodstock). Anyone who has ever attended an event hosted by Scott will immediately recall the depth of care, the breadth of consideration, and the sheer joy of play in each gathering.

In his passing, we remember him in this same spirit of celebration. He was loved by all, the center of any room, the life of every party. Building inclusive communities was so central to Scott’s character that he made it look effortless, even as he made every single person he encountered feel special, valued, and singular. He was the sun that lit up every scene. And more than that, its emergent moments: the sunrise, the sunset, the star-filled sky. None of which will hold the same luster with his passing, but all of which were made forever brighter through his presence.

Scott is preceded in death by his stepfather, Jim Shook. He is survived by his wife LesLee Snelson; mother Jean Shook; mother-in-law Sandra McCauley; sister Wendy Case; children Daniel Scott Snelson (wife Mashinka Hakopian), Kristi Martin (husband Clay Martin), Samantha Snelson; Jayla Rae Ardelean (husband Jeremy Currin), and Kylie Ardelean (partner Veronica Cuenca); grandchildren Jayci Martin, Zoey Martin, Mazzy Benno, Indy Benno, Charlie Benno, Dariel Cuenca, Tara Russell, Emma Russell, Liam Currin, and Eva Currin; and two doting cockapoos, Stormy and Willow; as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.

Services will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, located at 3401 South Highland Drive in Millcreek on Wednesday the 12th of May. The family will be receiving attendees at 1pm, followed by an outdoor memorial program beginning at 2pm. Donations in Scott’s name can be made to Good Sports or Every Kid Sports, organizations that remove financial barriers to sports involvement for low-income youth.