When Gavin Dick scored twice in East Tennessee State University’s 2–0 win over Liberty on October 10, someone special was watching from the stands. His uncle had travelled from Boston to see him play.
“It was such a good feeling to win against a bigger school at home, and to be the guy to make it happen with two goals was definitely a proud moment,” Gavin says. “My uncle flew in to watch the game from Boston, so getting to put on a good performance for him was the cherry on top.”
The performance brought the former IDA Valencia player to five goals and five assists in his first NCAA Division I season. With 12 starts across 14 appearances, the Scottish striker is already making a significant contribution at ETSU.
Earlier this year, we spoke with Gavin about his move from Scotland to IDA Valencia and his commitment to ETSU. Now, with his college career underway, he can look back at exactly how his time in Spain prepared him for it.
Despite his strong numbers, Gavin is honest about the adjustment.
“I didn’t really hit the ground running, but the coach trusted me, which allowed me to relax and settle in more as well.”
The pace and physical demands took some getting used to. Facing older players, covering more ground and adapting to a different role tested him early on.
“In Spain, the tempo is a lot slower compared to the USA, and it’s a lot more physically demanding here too,” he explains. “I knew coming in the level was high, but there are some real top players in D1 soccer and some top teams as well. It’s been a really good experience and challenge.”
When the goals and assists did not come immediately, his confidence briefly wavered. His response was to remember the work and performances that had earned him the opportunity.
“I had to remind myself of what I had done back in IDA Valencia and that I deserved to be here. I’m here for a reason.”
That belief helped him persevere. In September, he earned Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honours after scoring against Virginia Tech and contributing a goal and an assist against Belmont.
For Gavin, one of the clearest connections between IDA and college soccer is the daily routine.
“Of course, being in full-time training improved me as a player a lot, but it also allowed me to easily adapt to what is a really busy schedule in college soccer.”
At ETSU, a day before a match can begin with a 7 a.m. gym session, followed by morning classes, afternoon video analysis and training. Having already experienced a structured football environment in Valencia helped him manage those demands.
The familiarity extended to the changing room. At IDA, Gavin had learned to live and train alongside players from different countries, cultures and languages.
“It was really different for me, sharing a changing room with so many different kinds of people,” he says. “Overall, it gave me a good taster of the environment in college soccer.”
Even learning Spanish has carried over into his new team.
“We have quite a lot of Spanish speakers in the changing room, and they were all very impressed when a kid from Scotland started blethering away to them in Spanish.”
He laughs that it occasionally offers a useful advantage on the pitch too: teammates can communicate without their opponents understanding.
These experiences show how preparation for a college pathway extends beyond recruitment. For Gavin, arriving ready also meant knowing how to organise his days, connect with teammates and settle into another country.
Gavin also credits his time in Valencia with helping him understand his strengths and make better decisions on the pitch.
“IDA helped me a lot in understanding who I was as a player,” he explains. “In training on the field, with different points and advice, then in analysis, knowing where I have to be in different situations and knowing when to dribble, shoot or pass.”
He remembers the encouragement of George and Sota, his coaches at Quart, who urged him to keep shooting even when chances went unfinished.
“They would always say to keep shooting – even if you miss three, you will score the fourth. I think that really encouraged me to have confidence in myself.”
His work with Javi during unit training remains equally relevant.
“He gave me lots of advice as a striker on different runs to make and techniques to use in certain situations that I definitely use in every game.”
Those details now feed into a demanding role at ETSU. Gavin is expected to lead the press and finish chances, while also dropping deeper to help the team build attacks and create opportunities for others.
“I like to drop in sometimes and try to help the team build forward, which also allows me to make more key passes and help the team score.”
Alongside the coaching he has received, Gavin points to the extra work he puts in outside team training.
“You don’t always get a lot of reps shooting at goal in regular team training,” he says. “Going out to do extra shooting makes such a big difference in staying sharp, so that when that opportunity comes, you don’t even have to think about it.”
It is a habit he recommends to players preparing for the same move. With strong competition for places, he believes additional technical work can help a player stand out.
His advice also comes back to making full use of the people around you.
“There are some really good coaches at IDA who can offer a lot of great insight on the game, so make sure to ask questions and take in the comments and feedback to help yourself become a better player.”
Away from the pitch, Gavin is studying Business Management. Adjusting to academic deadlines was initially unfamiliar, but he now feels comfortable balancing coursework with football.
“It’s just important to make sure that you get all the work submitted before deadlines,” he says. “It was difficult for me at the start as it was pretty new, but I’m used to it now.”
His schedule changes around matches and travel, with classes generally taking place in the morning and training in the afternoon. There is also time to enjoy university life.
“We do get reasonable downtime to relax and socialise, which of course is really necessary.”
The opportunity to pursue a degree alongside high-level football is an important part of why he values the college route.
“Getting a degree is massive and can open up doors for many different careers down the line.”
Gavin’s individual ambitions are clear: he wants to finish as the conference’s leading goalscorer and assist provider. But the team’s targets carry greater weight.
ETSU are pursuing both the SoCon regular-season title and the conference tournament championship. For Gavin and his teammates, that ambition has become closely tied to a teammate whose ACL injury, he explains, has ended his playing career.
“His dream was to get a ring, so it’s become our team’s goal to make his dream come true, as it’s in our hands.”
It gives their pursuit of silverware a meaning that goes beyond individual performances.
For current IDA players considering college soccer, Gavin’s advice is practical. Get the paperwork organised early, particularly as an international student. Prepare for the physical demands of competing against bigger, stronger and older players. Ask questions, listen to feedback and make time for extra work.
Having made the transition himself, he is enthusiastic about the opportunities it offers.
“I would 100% recommend the college pathway for players coming from IDA. It’s a smooth transition from IDA Valencia to college soccer. I’ve loved my experience so far, and I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to play on such a great stage.”
Gavin’s experience connects the different stages of that pathway: developing in Spain, securing a college opportunity, and arriving with the habits and understanding to compete for a place.
His first season at ETSU is still unfolding. Five goals, five assists, and a growing role in the team already give him plenty to build on.
Interested in pursuing your own college soccer pathway? Explore IDA pathways and speak with our team about your development goals.
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