Football
- Title:
- Linebackers / Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- fbrecruiting@rice.edu
- Phone:
- 348-6900
Texas native Scott Vestal returns for his fourth season on South Main and his third coaching the Owls linebackers while also serving as recruiting coordinator.
In this three seasons, Vestal has developed the linebacking corps into one of the Owls top units, led by returning consensus All- Conference USA selection Blaze Alldredge and three-year starter Antonio Montero. Alldredge has been named to the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski preseason watch lists after piling up 102 tackles and tying for second in the nation with 21.5 tackles for loss. Montero was second on the squad with 83 tackles. The duo is backed by senior Garrett Grammer who is also a standout on special teams.
Vestal came to Rice in 2017 after spending the 2016 season at Maryland where he was a Defensive Assistant/Quality Control. He worked with the Terrapin safeties as Maryland advanced to the Quick Lane Bowl against Boston College.
Prior to joining the staff at Maryland, he spent three seasons with the Kansas Jayhawks , the last two as the safeties coach. Vestal, who also worked closely with the Jayhawk special teams, spent the 2012 season as the assistant director of football operations for KU.
Under Vestal's guidance, KU safety Isaiah Johnson was named the 2013 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after finishing his sophomore season with five interceptions, which ranked second in the conference. Johnson also finished second on the KU defense with 73 tackles. Additionally, Johnson picked up honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches.
Vestal joined the Kansas program from the University of Florida. He was the quality control coach for defense for the Gators in 2011 and served in the same role at Texas during the 2010 season.
Prior to his work with the Longhorns, Vestal was a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech, North Texas and SMU. Overall, Vestal spent four years at SMU, including a year as an assistant to the Director of Football Operations in 2003 before becoming the video graduate assistant in 2004.
He also spent one year coaching in the Texas high school ranks, serving as an assistant coach at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas.
He played safety at Arlington Lamar High School. Vestal earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a minor in history from Texas A&M in 2003 and a master's degree in liberal arts at SMU.
He and wife Gynell are parents to a son, Liam.
