Jan. 15, 2010

MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis head football coach Larry Porter is continuing to structure his first staff, and announced today that he will recommend Galen Scott to serve as the Tigers' linebackers coach.

Scott joins the Tigers after two seasons at Tulsa, where he was charged with working with the cornerbacks in 2009. During 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.

Prior to joining the Golden Hurricane staff, Scott served seven years at his alma mater, Illinois State. He was the Redbirds' defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. Scott was named the 2005 AFCA I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2006, his first season as the defensive coordinator, Scott's Redbird defense ranked No. 3 in the conference in total defense and No. 2 in scoring defense with only 19.7 points per game allowed.

A native of Orlando, Fla., Scott is one of the most decorated players to ever wear a uniform at Illinois State. 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 award winner and a consensus all-American.

With the graduation of Grigsby after the 2004 campaign, Scott continued his trend with Cameron Siskowic, who won the 2006 Gateway Defensive Player of the Year award. A two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist, Siskowic led the Gateway in tackles both in 2005 and 2006, giving the Redbirds and Scott the league leader in stops for the fifth straight season.

During Scott's four-year playing career (1997-2000), he set ISU records for tackles in a game, season and career. He also helped the Redbirds to their first Gateway Football Conference championship (1999) and a pair of appearances in the NCAA I-AA playoffs (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 Football Conference honors in each of his four seasons and was a member of the 1997 All-Gateway Newcomer team. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Illinois State.