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College Scout (East Coast)
Now in his eighth season as a college scout in the Northeast region, Lee Gissendaner begins his 11th season overall with the Green Bay Packers.
Named to his current position on May 15, 2001, Gissendaner originally joined the Packers in 1998 as the team's representative in the National Scouting Service and authored preliminary evaluations of all prospective seniors in upcoming NFL drafts during his initial three seasons with the club.
The 36-year-old Gissendaner began his post-football career by serving as a graduate assistant coach for Kent State University (1997) while working toward his master's degree. He subsequently was named to a scouting position with the Packers on July 8, 1998, by then-Executive Vice President/General Manager Ron Wolf.
A four-year letterman (1990-93) and three-year starter at Northwestern University, Gissendaner led the NCAA in punt return average (21.8 yards) during his 1992 junior season. That year, he also was named 'Most Valuable Player' in the Big Ten Conference, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and was voted as Northwestern's team MVP.
He remains the leader in career punt return average, and is sixth all-time in receptions (156) and fourth in receiving yardage (1,878). His 13 career receiving TD's are tied for fourth on the all-time list.
Gissendaner was named to the Big Ten's 100-Year Anniversary Team during the conference's Centennial celebration in 1995.
Gissendaner graduated from Northwestern in 1994 with a degree in organizational management. Four years later, he earned his master's degree in sports administration from Kent State (1998).
Originally chosen in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL draft by the then-Houston Oilers, Gissendaner was released that year at the conclusion of training camp. He then spent the 1995 season with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the summer of 1996 with the Scottish Claymores of the then-World League.
The one-year stint in Scotland proved fruitful for Gissendaner as he was a member of the '96 Claymores team that claimed the World League championship. In the fall of 1996, Gissendaner returned to the states and reported to training camp with the Vikings, eventually spending parts of the 1996 NFL season on Minnesota's practice squad.
A four-year letterman in football at Stow (Ohio) Monroe Falls High School, Gissendaner was selected All-Summit County, all-metro area and team MVP at wide receiver during his senior season. A two-time all-metro pole vaulter, Gissendaner earned three additional varsity letters in track. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2002.
Earlier, in 1999, Gissendaner's accomplishments and community efforts were recognized as he was inducted into the City of Akron/Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Gissendaner and his wife, Jamie, reside in Wilmington, Del., with infant daughter, Leah. His hobbies include travel, drawing, listening to music and reading - mainly biographies and other nonfiction. Gissendaner also works as a motivational speaker for youth, focusing on the importance of setting goals.