TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Karl Scott to serve as the Crimson Tide’s secondary coach on Thursday.
“We are excited to announce the addition of Karl Scott to our defensive staff,” Saban said. “He is a bright, young football coach who boasts a lot of experience coaching the secondary. He does an excellent job in terms of teaching the players, and he is someone we believe will be a tremendous asset in recruiting. We welcome his wife Taron and their daughter Kina Bailey to Tuscaloosa.”
Scott spent the last two seasons as the secondary coach at Texas Tech before being named the defensive coordinator at Louisiana-Lafayette in late December. His secondary at Texas Tech this past season posted an impressive turnaround, helping produce 29 turnovers, including 14 interceptions. He mentored two All-Big 12 selections in Jah’Shawn Johnson and Justus Parker.
“I have an incredible amount of appreciation for The University of Alabama and the program Coach Saban has built in Tuscaloosa,” Scott said. “I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this coaching staff because as a defensive coach, it doesn’t get any better than working for Coach Saban. I look forward to doing my part to help continue the success this program has enjoyed.”
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, Scott spent one season as the safeties coach at Louisiana Tech under head coach Skip Holtz. He helped the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record in 2015 and a second-place finish in the Western Division of Conference USA. Louisiana Tech defeated Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl as the Bulldogs finished eighth nationally in defensive touchdowns after forcing 22 turnovers, including 13 interceptions.
Scott worked at Southeastern Louisiana for three years, serving as the defensive coordinator in 2014 and linebackers coach in 2012-13. During his tenure with the Lions, he helped lead the program to back-to-back Southland Conference Championships (2013-14) and two NCAA Football Championship Division playoff appearances. His 2014 defense at Southeastern led the Southland Conference in total defense, while ranking seventh in the FCS. The Lions also led the nation in pass efficiency defense (94.3), and ranked fifth in red zone defense, eighth in scoring defense (17.7 ppg) and 11th in turnovers gained (28).
Before his time at Southeastern Louisiana, Scott served as recruiting coordinator, defensive backs coach, and linebackers coach for four years at Tusculum College from 2008-11. His career began at Delta State as a graduate assistant in 2007. Scott coached with Pete Golding, who joined the Tide’s staff in December, at Southeastern in 2012-13 and at Tusculum from 2008-09.
A native of Houston, Scott played at McMurray University in Abilene, Texas, where he earned his degree in exercise and sports studies in 2007. Scott and his wife Taron have a daughter, Kina Bailey.
Scott is replacing one of the nation’s best recruiters and defensive backs coaches in Tallassee, Alabama native Derrick Ansley. Ansley accepted the Colorado State defensive coordinator role following Alabama’s 2017 national title victory over Georgia. In less than a week, Ansley was named the defensive backs coach for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.