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USF announced on Sunday evening that football head coach Jeff Scott has been fired by Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly. Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has also been let go.
Special teams coach Daniel Da Prato will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and linebackers coach Ernie Sims will take over as the defensive coordinator.
Scott finished his USF career with a 54-28 drubbing at the hands of the Temple Owls on Saturday. He was 4-26 as the head coach after being hired in December of 2019 to replace Charlie Strong.
“When Jeff came to Tampa in December of 2019, we had high expectations for where he could take our football program,” Kelly said. “While he did so many things right, including rebuilding our culture, pushing forward our Indoor Performance Facility, and engaging our community, the on-the-field results fell well below our standards. He is a tremendous person and class individual and we wish him, Sara, Savannah and Hunter all the best in the future.
“I fully support Michael Kelly’s difficult decision to change the leadership of our football program and move us in a different direction,” USF President Rhea Law said. “I thank Coach Scott for his dedication to the University of South Florida and wish nothing but the best for him and his family in the future. Unfortunately, our football team’s results have fallen short of our expectations and what our fans deserve. We are fully committed to finding a new coach who can rebuild the program and consistently put a winning team on the field.”
Kelly said he’ll announce more information regarding the search for a new head coach in the days ahead.
Scott got to USF right before the world shutdown due to the pandemic, but never caught the traction some other coaches hired during that cycle have since then. He went a woeful 1-26 against FBS opponents in his tenure, and was blown out numerous times.
“What must be done eventually, must be done immediately.”
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