Scott Linehan

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Scott Linehan (born September 17, 1963) was named head coach of the St. Louis Rams on January 19, 2006. He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and the Minnesota Vikings for three seasons (2002-04).

Linehan grew up in Sunnyside, Washington, the son of a high school principal and the youngest of seven children. Linehan graduated from high school in 1982, and played college football at the University of Idaho, one hundred miles to the east. He was a quarterback for the Vandals under head coaches Dennis Erickson (1982-85) and Keith Gilbertson (1986-88). Linehan redshirted in 1982, was the back-up to senior QB Ken Hobart in 1983, and became the starter in 1984. Although the 1984 season started at 2-5, the Vandals won their last four games to finish at 6-5. In 1985, Linehan led Idaho to the Big Sky title and consecutive I-AA playoff appearances in 1985 & 1986. His career passing yardage for the Vandals was over 7000 yards. He received his bachelor's degree in public relations in 1986, and signed a rookie free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 1987, but a shoulder injury quickly ended his playing career.

Linehan began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Sunset High School in Beaverton, Oregon in 1987. He returned to Idaho as the wide receivers coach in 1989, then went to UNLV as the quarterbacks coach for a season in 1991, then back to Idaho (1992-93) as a quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator. In 1994, Linehan moved over to Washington to coach under Jim Lambright, beginning as the wide receivers coach, then adding offensive coordinator duties in 1996. In January 1999, Lambright was replaced as head coach by Rick Neuheisel. Linehan became the offensive coordinator at Louisville under head coach John L. Smith, whom he worked for in both coaching stints at Idaho. Smith is currently the head coach at Michigan State.

Linehan stayed for three years with Louisville, then moved up to the professional level in 2002, serving under Mike Tice as the offensive coordinator of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for three seasons. Nick Saban hired him for the same position in Miami in 2005.

Trivia

• Linehan is the brother-in-law of actor Jim Caviezel. Linehan's wife Kristen is the sister of Caviezel's wife Kerri. Also, he signed John David Washington, son of Academy Award winning actor Denzel Washington, as an undrafted free agent. (Coincidentally, Caviezel and Denzel Washington are currently filming a movie together, Deja Vu.)

External links

• College Football Data Warehouse Idaho Vandals 1985-1989
• St. Louis Rams Scott Linehan biography
• St. Louis Rams Transcript of Introductory Press Conference
• University of Idaho Athletics All-time football scores (pdf)