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Coach Scott 1-on-1 Interview

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State University Interim President and CEO Eddie N. Moore Jr. and Director of Athletics Marty L. Miller announced the hiring of Latrell Scott as the Spartans' new head football coach on Tuesday morning.

Scott becomes the 17th head coach in NSU football history. He replaces Pete Adrian, who retired in November following 10 seasons at the helm of the program.

"I am pleased to welcome Coach Scott to the Spartan family," said President Moore. "When searching for a new head football coach, we needed someone with experience in producing winners on the field and in the classroom. Coach Scott's record fits that mold and will allow us to continue producing and graduating successful student-athletes." 

"We are excited to have Coach Scott to serve as the next head football coach at Norfolk State University," Miller said. "He has a history of developing winning football programs and creating an environment of success for student-athletes. We think that he will elevate the Spartan football program to the next level."  

"I would like to thank President Moore and Mr. Miller for this opportunity," Scott said. "My family and I are excited to be here. We couldn't have picked a better place. Being from Virginia, I know Norfolk State's tradition and values and I'm thrilled to be part of this family."

Scott comes to NSU following an outstanding two-year run as head coach at Virginia State University. Scott directed the Trojans to a 19-4 record and two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division regular-season titles in his two seasons in Petersburg. The Trojans never lost to a CIAA team under Scott's direction, going a combined 15-0.

Highlighting Scott's two-year stint at VSU was an historic 2014 campaign. The Trojans went 10-3 overall and won their first outright CIAA championship since 1996 by defeating Winston-Salem State in the conference championship game. VSU recorded its first-ever NCAA football playoff appearance and victory by defeating Long Island University Post in the first round of the Division II Championship last month in Petersburg. The Trojans, seeded third in the six-team NCAA Division II Super Region One, fell to No. 2 seed Bloomsburg in the second round, snapping a 10-game winning streak. For his efforts, Scott was named the 2014 CIAA Coach of the Year. 

In 2013, Scott was voted the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) College Division State Co-Coach of the Year and the Touchdown Club of Richmond's state Division II/III Coach of the Year after guiding VSU to a 9-1 overall record and unblemished 7-0 mark in CIAA competition. The VSU football program also attained a top-25 ranking in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) weekly poll in 2013, another program first.

NSU will be the third head coaching position in Scott's career. In addition to leading VSU the last two years, Scott was head coach at the University of Richmond in 2010. At 34 years of age, Scott was the youngest head coach at the Division I level at the time of his appointment. He led the Spiders to a 6-5 mark that season. His overall record as a head coach is 25-9.

Scott has 15 years of coaching experience. In addition to his previous stints as a head coach, Scott has also served as an assistant coach at James Madison University (2012), the University of Virginia (2009), the University of Tennessee (2008), Richmond (2005-07), VMI (2002-04), Western Carolina (2001) and Fork Union Military Academy (1999-2000). 

At Virginia in 2009, Scott coached the wide receivers. One of his pupils, Kris Burd, signed as a free agent with the New York Jets. The year before, Scott was receivers coach at Tennessee, where he mentored another future NFL player in Denarius Moore, who was a fifth-round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders.

His stints at FBS U.Va. and Tennessee came on the heels of a stellar three-year run as an assistant at Richmond from 2005-07. Scott held the title of receivers coach and recruiting coordinator all three years and was also assistant head coach for the 2007 campaign. Richmond went 26-12, made two NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances and beat an FBS team (Duke) in Scott's three years as an assistant. The Spiders broke several school records in 2007, which ended with what was then a school record of 11 wins and a berth in the FCS national semifinals. 

Of the 10 UR records eclipsed in 2007, Scott's wide receivers helped the Spiders set new standards for scoring average (34.9), touchdowns (63) and total offense (5,675). Scott helped develop two more pro receivers at UR in Kevin Grayson and Arman Shields. Grayson was a three-time All-CAA performer who played professionally in Europe, while Shields earned an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and was picked by Oakland in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Scott arrived in Richmond after spending three seasons as wide receivers coach at VMI. During his tenure in Lexington, the Keydets led the Big South Conference in passing in 2003. His star pupil, Zohn Burden, went on to become the leading receiver in the history of the Big South.

Scott's first coaching assignment was at Fork Union Military Academy, where he spent two seasons before being named receivers coach at Western Carolina in 2001.

A three-year starter at tight end during his playing days at Hampton University, Scott played on one CIAA championship team and two MEAC championship and NCAA FCS playoff teams for the Pirates. He also competed in the Gridiron All-Star Classic in Orlando, Fla., following his senior season. 

A native of Richmond, Scott graduated from Hampton with a bachelor's degree in sports management in 1999. He attended Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville and Fork Union during his prep years.

Scott, 39, is married to the former Brandi Bradby of New Kent, Va. The couple has one son, Chase Latrell (1).