Scott 'Honored' to Be USF's New Coach, Calls for Bulls Nation to 'Unite'
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, DEC. 11, 2019 – Vice President of Athletics
Michael Kelly believes the sky is the limit for USF football with a charismatic, new leader the Bulls and Bay area community can enthusiastically get behind.
Less than two weeks after beginning his national search, Kelly proudly introduced
Jeff Scott as the fifth head coach in program history before a packed crowd at the Sam & Martha Gibbons Alumni Center on Wednesday morning.
"In 23 years, we've had 15 winning seasons and gone to 10 bowl games, but we're far from satisfied and have a burning desire to improve and continue to get better each and every day," Kelly said. "We know Coach Scott will find ways to build this program, build a culture from the inside out, and we have full faith that the best is yet to come."
Scott, 38, checked all the necessary boxes for Kelly, whose list of hiring requirements was topped by a coach needing a successful track record on and off the field.
Since Scott started serving as co-offensive coordinator at Clemson in the final game of 2014, the Tigers have gone 69-4, won twice in three national title game appearances, captured five straight ACC crowns, and they're currently preparing for a fifth consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff.
"If you've noticed anything watching Clemson the last few years, we win at the highest level, but we have fun doing it," Scott said. "We're gonna do that here."
Scott also said it's vital for USF's student-athletes to earn their degrees and be well-prepared for life after football. That's also been important to Clemson football, which has finished in the top 10 of the Academic Progress Rate (APR) in eight of the past nine years.
"I've been deeply impressed with his vision and his strong values, and I know he will reach new accomplishments for our football program, our student-athletes and the university at large," USF President Steven Currall said.
Scott sees a lot of similarities in USF and Clemson, going back to the time he started coaching at his alma mater in 2008 under head coach Dabo Swinney, who recently called him late one night to tell him about the opportunity with the Bulls.
"He said, 'Let me tell ya, this is one of them jobs you want,'" Scott said. "He said, 'Great university, great location, great conference, great recruiting base right in your backyard. You can win there and they have a great athletic director in
Michael Kelly.'"
After that chat with Swinney, Kelly and Currall made a special trip to South Carolina last Sunday to meet with Scott, who was very interested in creating a legacy at USF.
"I am humbled and honored to be your next head football coach," Scott told supporters Wednesday. "This is a job I've really had circled in my book for a long time and there's so many reasons."
In between talking about all USF has to offer in the booming Bay area, Scott laid out his plan for taking the Bulls to the next level.
"I believe that USF has to be united from start to finish," he said. "We will create a unity by focusing in our football program on five key areas: No. 1, common purpose and vision; No. 2, trust and respect; No. 3, communication; No. 4, building a family atmosphere and No. 5, having a genuine appreciation for each other."
In addition to having a shared vision for the program with Scott, Kelly was happy to find a coach with the skills it takes to reel in elite talent. Scott has been named a top-25 national recruiter by Rivals seven times (2012, 2014-19) and ACC Recruiter of the Year twice (2015, Rivals; 2018, 247Sports).
"Recruiting is one of the key parts to having a championship program," Scott said. "I used to have long trips down here to Florida to go recruit. Now I can get in the car and be there in 15 minutes, and I'm really excited about that."
During his time with Clemson, Scott helped recruit numerous current NFL players from the Bay area, like Ray-Ray McCloud, Deon Cain and Artavis Scott, who attended Wednesday's press conference.
"Our recruiting is going to go inside-out. It's gonna start right here in Tampa," Scott said. "There's so many great football players and great coaches right here in this area. We're gonna do an outstanding job of knowing who all of them are."
The ability to build strong relationships throughout the Bay area as a whole and within USF's fanbase also was key to Kelly in the hiring process. Scott's desire to bring the Bay together with USF started Wednesday.
"I think it's very important that our Tampa Bay area is united around this football program," he said. "I think a big part of that is from myself and our players really being involved in the community."
Plan on seeing a lot of Scott around the Bay once he returns from one final order of Clemson business. Scott will continue his co-offensive coordinator duties while the Tigers chase after their third national crown since 2016.
After that, Scott will fully focus on helping USF add to a "solid foundation" already in place. Back in 2018, USF became the fastest team in Florida to reach 150 program wins, but Scott feels the Bulls' best days are ahead.
"There's no doubt there's a lot of work to do and I'm excited to get started (at USF). Together, united, we will build something very special," Scott said. "Here in about 20 days, we're getting ready to start a new decade. I firmly believe that if we come together, we unite, that this will be the start of the best decade in University of South Florida football history."
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed just its 22nd season of football, and 19th at the FBS level, the USF football program has earned 10 bowl appearances, including a current run of four straight, and owns a record of 6-3 in bowl games. The Bulls have appeared in the national top 25 rankings in each of the past three seasons, including a program record run of 20 straight weeks in the top 25, and in 2018 reached the program's 150th win faster than any FBS program in state of Florida history. USF has posted a pair of 10-plus win seasons in the last three years, including a program-record 11 wins (11-2) in 2016, and logged 15 winning seasons overall. Since first taking the field in 1997, the USF program has reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings (2007), seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 29 earn first-team all-conference selection.
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