LSU Gold

Linehan Named Passing Game Coordinator

by Michael Bonnette (@LSUBonnette)
+0
Linehan Named Passing Game Coordinator

BATON ROUGE – Scott Linehan, who served as head coach of the St. Louis Rams and has over 20 years of combined experience as an offensive coordinator in the NFL and the collegiate level, has officially been named LSU’s passing game coordinator, head coach Ed Orgeron announced on Tuesday. 
 
Linehan will work alongside offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Steve Ensminger on the LSU staff. Linehan joins the LSU staff after spending 17 years in the NFL, 13 of which came as an offensive coordinator. 
 
“Scott brings a wealth of knowledge to our offense,” Orgeron said. “We wanted to bring in someone who will expand our passing game and with Scott’s experience as an NFL head coach and offensive coordinator we feel this is the best move for our offense. After talking to numerous people with NFL experience and interviewing Scott we knew he was the right fit for the LSU Tigers.”
 
Linehan most recently served on the Dallas Cowboys staff for five years, handling passing game coordinator duties in 2014 before his promotion to offensive coordinator from 2015-18. While in Dallas, Linehan helped the Cowboys to three divisional titles and to three playoff appearances.
 
The Cowboys went 12-4 and claimed the NFC East with Linehan calling the plays as the passing game coordinator in 2014. In 2016 with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, Linehan helped lead Dallas to a 13-3 mark and the NFC East title. The Cowboys also won the NFC East in 2018.
 
Prior to that, Linehan was the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13. In 2011, Linehan helped the Lions to a 10-6 mark and a berth in the playoffs. Quarterback Matthew Stafford earned AP Comeback Player of the Year honors after throwing for career-highs of 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns.
 
Linehan coached the St. Louis Rams from 2006-08, compiling an 11-25 mark as the head coach.
 
Other NFL stops for Linehan include offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings (2002-04) and offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins (2005).  While with the Vikings, quarterback Daunte Culpepper was selected to the Pro Bowl twice and led the NFL in passing yards (4,717) and completions (379) in 2004. Also, during that span, Viking wide receiver Randy Moss caught 37 TD passes and led the NFL in touchdown receptions with 17 in 2003.
 
Prior to get his start in the NFL, Linehan held offensive coordinator and quarterback coach duties for Louisville for three years (1999-2001). The Cardinals reached a bowl game each season and claimed the Conference USA title in 2001, going 11-2 overall.
 
He spent five years on the staff at Washington, coaching wide receivers for two years (1994-95), followed by three years as offensive coordinator (1996-98). The Huskies reached a bowl game four times with Linehan on staff and finished 9-3 and ranked No. 16 in the nation in his first year as offensive coordinator in 1996.
 
A graduate of the University of Idaho, Linehan got his collegiate coaching start at his alma mater where he handled the wide receivers in 1989 and 1990. He then spent one season as the quarterbacks coach at UNLV before returning to Idaho as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in 1992 and 1993.