Galen Scott
	Position: Linebackers Alma Mater: Illinois State, 2001

Galen Scott enters his third season as the program's linebackers coach in 2012. He previously worked with Justin Fuente at Illinois State from 2001-06 and remained with the Tigers staff when Fuente was given the reins of the Memphis program.

Scott was elevated to co-defensive coordinator in September of 2011 and also continued to guide the linebackers. Under his tutelage, linebacker Terrence Thomas flourished in his senior season and led the 2011 Tigers defense with 106 tackles, including 72 solo stops. In addition, Akeem Davis, who worked at linebacker in nickel, was the squad's second-leading tackler with 78 hits. Davis also led the squad in interceptions (3) and tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries (4) and forced fumbles (3).

Scott guided one of the most-successful linebackers in school history in 2010 when Jamon Hughes ranked third nationally with 147 tackles. Hughes was an All-Conference USA first team pick and was named the team's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. His 147 tackles were the fourth-most for a season, and his 21 stops against Southern Miss were the second-most for a game in school history.

Scott joined the Tigers after two seasons at Tulsa (2008-09), where he worked with the cornerbacks in 2009. Under Scott's guidance, James Lockett was a two-time All-C-USA honoree.

In the 2008 season, Scott worked with outside linebackers and safeties. The 2008 Golden Hurricane squad finished the season with an 11-3 record and a 45-13 win over Ball State in the GMAC Bowl. Under Scott's direction, Lockett was named to the 2008 All-C-USA second team, and Kenny Sims was an All-C-USA honorable mention pick.

Prior to joining the Golden Hurricane staff, Scott served seven years at his alma mater, Illinois State (2001-07) and took on the role of defensive coordinator his last two seasons. In his first season as defensive coordinator in 2006, Scott directed a Redbirds defense that was the Gateway Conference's No. 3 total defense and No. 2 scoring defense, allowing 19.7 points per game. In 2005, Scott was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year.

A native of Orlando, Fla., Scott is one of the most-decorated players to ever wear an Illinois State uniform. Until 2004, Scott owned the career tackles record, but his protégé, Boomer Grigsby, claimed the mark under his guidance. Scott helped mold Grigsby into an unprecedented three-time Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year performer and a consensus All-American.

With the graduation of Grigsby after the 2004 campaign, Scott continued his trend of producing great players with Cameron Siskowic, who won the 2006 Gateway Defensive Player of the Year Award. A two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist, Siskowic led the league in tackles in 2005 and 2006, giving the Redbirds and Scott the Gateway Conference leader in stops for five-straight seasons (2002-06).

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.

Scott's single-game mark (27 tackles) ranks No. 5 in Gateway Conference history and his season total (186) is No. 7 in the league's annals. His career number ranks No. 3 in conference history.

Scott received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Illinois State. He and his wife, Tashauna, were married in June of 2008. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter Ryan, in May of 2010.