Latrell Scott resigns as football coach after second DWI arrest

University of Richmond football coach Latrell Scott has resigned from his position Tuesday afternoon, leaving the Spiders without a permanent coach 10 days before the team's season opener. Offensive coordinator Wayne Lineburg was appointed as interim coach for the season.

According to the police records found on Virginia Court Case Information website, Scott was arrested for DWI and refused to take a breathalyzer Monday night in Henrico County. According to the records, it is his second arrest for a DWI within the past 5 to 10 years.

Athletic Director Jim Miller said that he was aware of Scott's previous DUI while interviewing him for the coaching job.

"We spent a great deal of time during the interview process talking about issues; one of those was that [previous DUI] about what the expectations would be for him for the future," Miller said at a press conference Tuesday night. "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."

Miller said that Scott, 36, called him Tuesday morning around 8:40 a.m. to inform Miller of his legal trouble and met with him around 10 a.m. when Scott arrived on campus. At that time, Scott offered his resignation and, after deliberation, Miller agreed to accept it.

Miller said that Scott apologized for the incident when he arrived on campus.

Although Scott has yet to go to court on the most recent charge, Miller said that the possibility of suspending Scott until the outcome of the case was only briefly considered.

"I think the most important thing we decided was: What is the right thing to do now going forward?," Miller said. "And the decision was to accept his resignation."

Miller refused to speculate on what Scott's punishment would have been if this had been Scott's first DUI.

Lineburg, 37, served under Scott as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach last year and also held that position for three years under previous coach Dave Clawson from 2004 until 2006. From 2007 through 2009, Lineburg coached the wide receivers for two years at Virginia and spent his final year there as the running back coach.

Lineburg got the job based on his experience and leadership ability, Miller said. There have yet to be discussions about filling the newly-vacant offensive coordinator position.

After coach Mike London left Richmond to take the coaching vacancy at the University of Virginia, Lineburg was not interviewed for the position that ultimately went to Scott. Miller said that Lineburg would get to coach the entire year and would be considered for the permanent position after the season.

"He's our head coach for the 2011 season," Miller said. "There's nobody going to be interviewing now, there's not going to be anybody that pops up in two weeks.

"He's the head coach and we think he's going to get the job done."

The players have yet to be addressed by Scott and Miller said that decision would be left to Lineburg and Scott. If Scott wanted to talk to the players, he would enable such a meeting.

The team was addressed by Miller before Tuesday's practice though. He told them about Scott's resignation and described the players as shocked. He said he was confident that the players would still be able to have a successful year.

"My bet is with the quality of men we have coaching them and the quality of men we have on the team, we have every reason to believe that there will be a successful season," Miller said. "By successful, I don't mean just wins and losses, I'm referring to these young men will carry on their careers at the University of Richmond and accomplish things in the classroom and on the field that they would be very proud of."

Scott, was entering his second season as head coach of the Spiders after leading them to a 6-5 record last year. When he was announced as head coach back in December 2009, he became the youngest coach in Division I at the age of 34.

Miller said that he had no regrets on hiring Scott despite his abrupt departure.

Contact staff writer Andrew Prezioso at andrew.prezioso@richmond.edu