Getting to Know Coach Scott
LD Scott joined the Missouri State staff in 2020 after building a reputation of one of the country’s top recruiters and defensive line specialists. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2023 under new head coach Ryan Beard while retaining his guidance of the Bears defensive line.
In 2024, Missouri State’s defense led the MVFC in sacks per game (2.58), which ranked 20th nationally, while the Bears ranked 21st in turnover margin (+0.58) and 28th in takeaways (20). Six MSU defenders earned Valley postseason honors, including defensive linemen Darion Smith (2nd team) and Jalen Williams (honorable mention), while the MoState defense finished third in the conference in tackles for loss (5.8).
Scott’s 2024 defense also boasted consensus Freshman All-American LB Dallas Winner-Johnson.
In 2023, Scott’s first season as defensive coordinator featured 14 takeaways, 41 points off turnovers, 60 passes defended and 17 sacks. The Bears defense ranked 40th nationally in interceptions (10) and 40th in tackles for loss per game (5.9) among the national field of 122 FCS programs.
Scott’s defensive unit also boasted a pair of All-MVFC selections with second-teamer Todric McGee (DB) and honorable mention pick Devin Goree (DL). Likewise, CB Avery Powell earned Phil Steele Freshman All-America first-team honors as well as MVFC All-Newcomer Team distinction.
The 2022 MSU defensive front was led by All-MVFC performer and team captain Kevin Ellis who ranked second nationally and led The Valley in fumble recoveries (3). He also led the Bears in tackles for loss (9.0), QB hurries (7) and fumble recoveries (3) while finishing the season with 51 total stops, 18 solos, and 2.5 sacks. Under Scott’s guidance, Ellis finished No. 4 all-time in Missouri State history in tackles for loss (36.5) and No. 10 in career sacks (20.0) .
In 2021, the Bears broke their season sack record again (30), while Eric Johnson was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round. Four of Scott’s linemen earned postseason honors with Ellis (first team) and Johnson (second team) earning All-MVFC distinction. Allen Love and Siale Suliafu were also named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team.
In 2020-21, Scott engineered a defensive front that helped set a school record for sacks (27), while racking up 65 tackles for loss. He also boasted a pair of all-conference selections in second-team picks Kevin Ellis and Eric Johnson. The tandem combined for 58 total stops, 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks on the year.
Scott spent the 2014-18 seasons at Louisville, coaching the defensive line at his alma mater and developing five NFL players in his tenure. His 2014 and 2015 defensive lines both finished in the top 20 nationally against the run.
He was influential in the development of All-ACC performer Sheldon Rankins, who ranked in the school’s top 10 for career tackles for loss and sacks and was the No. 12 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints. Louisville finished sixth in the country against the run in 2014 and 10th in total defense en route to a 9-4 mark and an appearance in the Belk Bowl.
Scott served one season as Western Kentucky’s defensive ends coach for head coach Bobby Petrino in 2013-14. He worked with defensive line coach Don Dunn to craft together a lineup that saw much of its unit depart due to graduation. The new lineup held its final four conference opponents to just 105 yards per game on the ground.
Scott spent 2011 as an intern with Arkansas under Petrino working with the defensive tackles, before moving to a grad assistant role in 2012.
As a player at Louisville, Scott was a four-year letterman, putting together a 41-tackle season in his senior year of 2009. He had at least 20 tackles in each of his final three seasons and played a key role in Louisville’s 2006 season, when the Cardinals went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl.
Scott played the 2010 season in the CFL with Winnipeg before starting his coaching career as the D-line coach at Seneca High in Louisville.
Scott graduated with a degree in Communications from Louisville in 2009.
He is married to the former Kelsey Petrino and the couple has four children, Brianna, Braylon, Emmett, and Anissa.
