Larry Scott | Howard University

On Feb. 6, 2020, Howard University announced Larry Scott as its football head coach. Scott joined the Bison Family with more than 15 years of collegiate experience, including six postseason bowl/playoff game victories (10 appearances overall).

The Sebring, Fla., native has spent a majority of his coaching career in the state of Florida, where he attended (1997-99) and coached (2006-12) at South Florida as well as Miami (2013-15) and most recently Florida (2018-2020). Prior to joining the Florida coaching staff, Scott was a member of Ethan Wolfe staff at the University of Tennessee (2016-17).

 

A 2000 graduate from the University of South Florida (USF), Scott played offensive lineman for the Bulls. After four seasons of high school coaching experience, Scott joined the USF staff in 2005 as Director of High School Relations. During his time at USF, Scott coached the offensive line, tight ends and running backs as well as serving as a lead recruiter.

 

In 2008, Scott helped lead the Bulls to their best recruiting class in program history, only to surpass that class with the nation’s No. 21 ranked class in 2009.

 

During his time in Coral Gables, Scott served as the Hurricanes’ tight ends coach for two-plus seasons (2013-15) prior to being named their interim head coach for the final six games of 2015. As Miami’s interim coach, Scott led the Hurricanes to a 4-2 mark and a berth in the Sun Bowl.

Howard (2020-present)

In only his second full season at the helm, Scott led the program to a share of the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Regular Season Title, its first championship since 1993. Additionally, he saw 17 Bison earn All-MEAC honors, including defensive back Kenny Gallop, Jr., who received BOXTOROW HBCU All-American honor.

After playing a pair of games during the 2021 COVID-19 spring season, Scott coached 10 Bison to the All-MEAC Team following the 2021 fall campaign.

On Oct. 2, 2021, Scott earned his first win as Bison head coach, knocking off FCS powerhouse Sacred Heart at Greene Stadium.

Before each home game throughout the 2021 fall season, the program implemented "The Bison Walk," featuring the Howard University Showtime Band, Cheerleaders and football team marching through campus towards Greene Stadium.

In Dec. 2021, Scott signed the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history.

 

Florida (2018-2020)

Scott spent two seasons with Dan Mullen as the assistant coach and tight ends coach, where he guided his position group to multiple personal bests and better numbers than in years prior.

In the 2021 NFL Draft, Scott saw Kyle Pitts selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons, making him the highest drafted tight end in league history.

Scott helped devise game plans each week that allowed 11 different Gators to record a touchdown reception in 2018 and 10 in 2019.

 

Blocking was a huge emphasis for Scott and his student-athletes, that attention to detail throughout the offseason and practice paid off as Florida’s running backs totaled 2,771 yards rushing on 526 attempts in 2018. He concluded the 2019 season with 1,956 yards rushing on 398 attempts.

 

Tennessee (2016-17)

Scott helped Ethan Wolf cap his career in 2017 as one of the greatest tight ends in Rocky Top history. Wolf ranked No. 2 among UT tight ends in career receptions (91) and No. 3 in receiving yards (998) and led the Vols with 47 starts.

 

Tennessee’s offense in 2017 saw running back John Kelly (778 rush yards, 37 catches) join Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (1,271 rush yards, 54 catches) as the only two players in the Power 5 to lead their teams in rushing and receptions.

 

In 2016, Tennessee averaged 24.9 yards on 42 kickoff returns and 11.1 yards on 33 punt returns while punter Trevor Daniel averaged 44.6 yards per punt and kicker Aaron Medley scored 94 points (11 field goals, 61 extra points) while booting a personal-best 45 touchbacks on kickoffs.

 

UT’s tight ends combined for 45 receptions, 499 yards and two touchdowns in 2016 and helped pave the way for 2,668 rushing yards (5.2-yard average). Scott tutored fifth-year senior Jason Croom, who made the transition from wide receiver to tight end in 2016, to 21 catches for 242 yards on the season.

 

Miami (2013-15)

Scott spent two-plus seasons as the Hurricanes’ tight ends coach prior to being named their interim head coach for the final six games of 2015. As Miami’s interim head coach, Scott led the Hurricanes to a 4-2 mark and a berth in the Sun Bowl.

 

In 2014, Scott oversaw a tight end unit that combined for 52 receptions and 833 yards receiving. He also mentored Clive Walford, who had a breakout 2014 campaign where he led the team in receptions with 44.

Under Scott’s watchful eye, Walford earned third team All-America and second team All-ACC honors.

 

Following the year, Walford was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

USF (2005-12)

Prior to coming to Coral Gables, Scott spent the previous eight seasons at USF, beginning in 2005 as the director of high school relations. In 2006, he moved to a graduate assistant role before coaching tight ends in 2007-08 and again in 2010-11. Between tight end coaching stints, he coached the offensive line in 2009. In 2012, he coached the running backs and became an offensive assistant.

 

During his second stint as the Bulls’ TE coach, Scott and his group helped USF to its fifth-straight eight-win season, making it one of only 15 programs nationally and one of just 10 in BCS leagues to accomplish the feat.

 

High School (2001-04)

Scott’s coaching career began in the high school ranks as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Tampa’s Wharton High School for four months (May-August) in 2001. From there, he was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from for three seasons (2001-03) at Freedom High School before returning to his alma mater, Sebring High School, in 2004 as the co-offensive coordinator.

Education:

University of South Florida, 2000, bachelor’s degree in communications

 

Collegiate Playing Experience:

University of South Florida

Three-year letter winner as an offensive tackle

Member of the South Florida first recruiting class that began practicing in 1996