Thursday, January 17, 2008

KARL SCOTT NAMED TO TUSCULUM FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Karl Scott has been named to the Tusculum College football staff announced Pioneer head coach Frankie DeBusk. Scott, a native of Houston, Texas, will serve as an assistant coach on the TC staff and will coach the Pioneer linebackers.

Scott comes to Tusculum from Delta State University, where he served last season as a graduate assistant coach for the Statesmen. In his lone season at the Cleveland, Miss. school, he helped DSU to a 10-2 record and a Gulf South Conference championship, while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and earning a No. 10 national ranking.

Scott helped orchestrate one of the top defenses in the nation a year ago, while mentoring All-American linebacker Michael Eubanks. Eubanks was a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the National Player of the Year in Division II. Eubanks, who finished third in the Harlon Hill balloting, ended his collegiate career as the NCAA II leader in sacks (39) and third all-time in career tackles for loss (67.5).

“We had a lot of interest in this position and Karl was recommended highly by some of the best in the coaching profession,” said DeBusk. “Karl is an outstanding coach, but is also a quality individual. I’m very excited about the youth and energy he brings to our program and he will fit in well with our coaching staff.”

Scott also coached All-Conference standouts Lardester Hicks and Anthony King this past season, while serving on the coaching staff for DSU head coach and former Tusculum defensive coordinator Ron Roberts.

The Statesmen led the nation in pass efficiency defense (77.9) and was second in the country in total defense (227.4 yards per game), scoring defense (13.9 points per game) and team pass sacks (4.0 sacks per game). DSU was also third in the land in rushing defense, allowing just 67.3 yards per contest on the ground.

Scott played his collegiate career at NCAA Division III McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, where he graduated in 2007 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Studies. As a freshman in 2003, he was named the American Southwest Conference Player of the Week and later named Football Gazette National Player of the Week after making a school single-game record three interceptions.

Following his graduation from McMurry, he served on the coaching staff at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas where he coached the linebackers.

Tusculum posted a 6-5 record and finished second in the South Atlantic Conference in 2007. After a 0-3 start, the Pioneers rebounded by winning six of their final eight contests, including a pair of wins over nationally-ranked opponents.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

- TC –