Galen Scott is in his first season as UTSA's defensive pass game coordinator and linebackers coach.
Scott comes to San Antonio from Louisiana, where he was the Ragin’ Cajuns’ inside linebackers coach for three seasons. During his time in Lafayette, he coached five all-conference players and helped lead the program to 25 wins and a conference championship.
In 2023, Scott helped guide the Ragin’ Cajuns to six wins and a bowl appearance. He coached K.C. Ossai to honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference accolades after he led the team in tackles with 95 and posted 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
In 2022, Scott mentored Jourdan Quibodeaux to second-team all-league honors after he recorded a team-high 107 tackles to go with 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Kris Moncrief also earned All-Sun Belt honors after registering 74 tackles, 6.0 TFL and 2.5 sacks.
In his first season in Lafayette, Scott helped the Ragin’ Cajuns capture the Sun Belt Conference Championship with a perfect 8-0 league ledger and a 13-1 overall record capped by a 36-21 victory over Marshall in the New Orleans Bowl. Individually, Lorenzo McCaskill was named All-Sun Belt Conference after pacing the team with 85 tackles to go with two tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Additionally, all-conference linebacker Ferrod Gardner was credited with 67 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and an interception. That duo helped Louisiana rank 11th nationally in scoring defense (18.5) and 22nd nationally in total defense (334.6).
Prior to his time with the Ragin’ Cajuns, Scott spent two seasons at North Texas, where he worked with the linebackers. His unit was paced by KD Davis, who led the team in tackles in 2019 and 2020 en route to earning honorable mention All-Conference USA honors.
Prior to his time on the Mean Green staff, Scott was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Virginia Tech in 2016-17. He helped the Hokies to a pair of bowl game appearances and a 10-win season in 2016 that saw Virginia Tech win the ACC Coastal Division and defeat Arkansas in the Belk Bowl. The Hokies ranked among the top-15 defenses in the country both seasons, as well as ranking within the top 10 against the pass each year.
While with Virginia Tech, he coached six All-ACC performers who went on to sign contracts in the NFL, including Tremaine Edmunds, who was First Team All-ACC and was the 16th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills (2018), and Terrell Edmunds, who was a Second Team All-ACC selection and was the 28th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before joining Virginia Tech, Scott spent six seasons at Memphis, coaching the linebackers before becoming the defensive coordinator in his final season. He helped the Tigers to three bowl game appearances, including a share of the American Athletic Conference Championship and a top-25 finish in 2014.
In 2014, the Tigers had a top-25 defense nationally and top-20 defense against the run. The following season, Scott helped lead the Tigers to one of the biggest wins in program history, a 37-24 victory over No. 13 Ole Miss on the way to a nine-win campaign after losing 11 starters on defense from the previous season. The win over the Rebels was the program’s first against a ranked opponent since 1996.
Scott was responsible for recruiting and coaching Dontari Poe, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He also recruited Tony Pollard, who was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2017 before being drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys (2019).
He spent two seasons at Tulsa as the outside linebackers and secondary coach, helping the Golden Hurricane claim a pair of Conference USA West division titles. While at Tulsa, Scott recruited and coached all-league linebacker Dexter McCoil, who went on to become a Grey Cup champion (2015) and was named Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year (2014).
Scott began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Illinois State, for seven seasons, including two as the defensive coordinator. Scott was named the 2005 AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year with the Redbirds. During that time, he coached five players who were named conference Defensive Player of the Year in five consecutive seasons – Boomer Grigsby (2002-2004), Brent Hawkins (2005) and Cameron Siscowic (2006).
Grigsby was a fifth round selection by the Chiefs (2005), Hawkins was a fifth round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars (2006) and Siskowic was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals, before signing with the Minnesota Vikings later in the 2006 season.
During the 2005 season he helped lead the Redbirds to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 1994 and his defense ranked within the top five nationally and second in the conference.
In addition to his prowess on the defensive side of the ball, he also recruited 2005 Gateway Offensive Player of the Year, wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who was a 2007 NFL Draft third round pick by the Atlanta Falcons.
Scott was a three-time All-America linebacker for the Redbirds and graduated as the school's all-time leading tackler, before Grigsby, coached by Scott, broke the ISU record.
During Scott's four-year playing career (1997-2000), he set Redbirds records for tackles in a game, season and career. He also helped Illinois State to its first Gateway Conference title (1999) and a pair of NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances (1998, 1999).
Scott was named to four All-America teams and was only the fifth player in school history to earn All-America status in three different seasons. He also snagged All-Gateway Conference honors each of his four seasons and was a member of the 1997 All-Gateway Newcomer Team.
An honor roll student at Illinois State, he set Redbirds tackles records for a game (27) and season (186). He was the first Illinois State player to exceed 500 career tackles, and his final figure was 109 more hits than the previous record holder, Wilbert Brown.
He earned his bachelor's degree in health education in 2001 and his master's degree in sports administration in 2003, both from Illinois State.
He and his wife, Tashauna, have two children, Reid and Ryan.
The Galen Scott File
Coaching Experience
2001-02: Illinois State (outside linebackers/safeties)
2003-05: Illinois State (outside linebackers)
2006-07: Illinois State (defensive coordinator/outside linebackers)
2008: Tulsa (outside linebackers/secondary)
2009: Tulsa (cornerbacks)
2010-14: Memphis (linebackers)
2015: Memphis: (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2016: Virginia Tech (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2017: Virginia Tech (co-defensive coordinator/safeties)
2018: Rowlett High School
2019-20: North Texas (linebackers)
2021-23: Louisiana (inside linebackers)
2024-present: UTSA (defensive pass game coordinator/inside linebackers)
Playing Experience
1997-2000: Illinois State (linebacker)
Education
• Bachelor’s degree in health education, Illinois State, 2001
• Master’s degree in sports administration, Illinois State, 2003
Hometown
Orlando, Fla.
Family
Wife: Tashauna
Children: Reid, Ryan