After 40 years of teaching at San Jose State University, Scott Pierson retired May 2018 as the Spartan marching band director. Pierson would spend his days mapping out marching band formations and drills at his breakfast table before headed to SJSU. Pierson’s history with the marching band started in the early 1970’s when he was a student at San Jose State and played under band director Roger Muzzy. Pierson got his teaching credential and took a job at Piedmont Hills High School in San Jose. Piedmont Hills was the only school that could play the SJSU fight song, which always delighted alumni — including Alan and Phyllis Simpkins, San Jose State grads who became influential benefactors to the marching band. They worked together on revive the Spartan marching band and Scott Pierson as director in 1978.