Latrell Scott resigned as the University of Richmond's football coach Tuesday after being charged in Henrico County with driving while intoxicated late Monday night. It was Scott's second DWI charge in seven years.
UR named offensive coordinator Wayne Lineburg head coach for this season. Athletic Director Jim Miller said UR will begin a search for a head coach following this season, and added Lineburg could be a candidate. The Spiders open at Duke on Sept. 3. Lineburg, 37, has been an assistant at UR (under Scott and Dave Clawson), at Virginia and at William and Mary.
Scott, 36, was convicted of driving while intoxicated in Rockbridge County in 2004, when he was an assistant coach at VMI. A charge of reckless driving was dismissed. Scott's license was suspended for 12 months. He served five days of a 90-day jail sentence.
Miller said the school was aware of that conviction when Scott was hired on Dec. 15, 2009.
"We spent a great deal of time during the interview process talking about issues. One of those was that issue, about what the expectations would be about him for the future," Miller said. "And I think it was clearly understood that this was an opportunity for coach Scott, and that it was very important that there not be a second occurrence.
"It was the right thing to do to hire him, and it was I think the right thing to accept his resignation, under the circumstances."
The Spiders went 6-5 in Scott's season as head coach.
Miller said Scott, a Richmond native, called him Tuesday morning at about 8:40, and the two met at about 10 a.m. Miller called UR's choice to accept Scott's resignation "an uncomplicated, but difficult decision."
The resignation was not requested, according to Miller, who referred to Scott as "a man that's accomplished a lot in his life. I'm sure he will accomplish more in his life. He's young.
"He was very, very, very sorry this had happened."
Scott, a graduate of Lee-Davis High and Hampton University, could not be reached for comment, nor could his attorney, Joe Owen. UR put its players and coaches off limits to the media. Lineburg will be introduced today at 11 a.m.
Scott also was charged with making an improper turn during April in Henrico County, and found guilty in May. He received a ticket in Fluvanna County in 2009, for driving 80 in 65-mph zone.
Spiders assistant coaches learned of Scott's resignation about 90 minutes before Tuesday afternoon's practice, and UR's players learned at about 3 p.m., just before practice began.
Miller recommended to UR President Dr. Edward L. Ayers that Lineburg become head coach for this season. Ayers accepted the recommendation.
"In these unusual and unfortunate circumstances, I think it's normal first to look at the coaches on the staff who are leaders, most experienced, your coordinators," Miller said. "In looking at that, Wayne was clearly the right person for the job. He was here as a coordinator with Dave Clawson during the years that we built this program into something really solid."
Clawson coached the Spiders from 2004 through 2007. Scott was one of his assistants during 2005-07, before moving to the staffs of Tennessee (2008) and Virginia (2009). UR made two FCS playoff appearances under Clawson, and won the 2008 FCS title with Mike London as head coach.
Miller said that when he met with UR's players, "I did see on their faces, it was obviously a sense of shock. But these young men and the men that are their coaches, and staff members that support them, are very resilient, very tough. They've had some great success here during their tenures.
"My bet is, with the quality of the men we have coaching them, and the quality of men on the team, that there's every reason to believe that there will be a successful season. And by successful, I'm not just referring to wins and losses. I'm referring to these young men will carry on their careers here at the University of Richmond and accomplish things in the classroom and on the field that they can be very proud of."
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