Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Inside Linebackers
- Email:
- slsymons@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-5119
Scott Symons joined the University of Memphis staff in 2018 and coaches the inside linebackers. He moved to Memphis after a four-year stint at West Georgia (UWG).
“We are excited about the addition of Coach Symons and his wife, Kristen, to our family,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “We have been able to develop a great relationship, as he has come to clinics with our defensive staff over the last few years. Adding Scott to our staff allows us to have great continuity in moving forward. Scott is one of the nation’s brightest defensive minds, and his experience as a coordinator six of last seven years will prove valuable to the staff we have in place.”
At West Georgia, Symons helped the Wolves to a 40-13 record in four seasons, including back-to-back 12-win seasons, two NCAA Division II Super Region 2 titles and a Gulf South Conference crown. Symons guided six defenders to all-conference honors, including a pair of defensive All-Americans: lineman Dylan Donahue and cornerback Marcus Sayles. Donahue, who was named the GSC Defensive Player of the Year, was drafted by the New York Jets in 2017. Former Wolves Tyrell Adams (Oakland Raiders) and Sayles (Buffalo Bills) are three players off Symons’ defense currently in the NFL.
Known for dominant defenses under Symons, West Georgia ranked in the top-25 nationally in scoring defense and total defense from 2014-17. Symons’ stellar 2015 defense finished No. 3 in total defense, allowing just 248.9 yards per game, and No. 6 in scoring defense with just 16.3 points allowed per game.
Symons has deep roots in the Mid-South. After graduating from Lindenwood in Missouri in May of 2008, he spent the 2008-11 seasons at Harding University, serving in a variety of roles, including receivers coach (2008), defensive backs coach (2009) and co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator (2010, 2011).
“Coach Symons is a great fit when it comes to recruiting this region with his extensive knowledge of Arkansas,” Norvell said. “He’s also a native Texan, which will allow for continued recruiting success in those areas.”
His receiving corps at Harding helped the team average over 460 yards and 30 points per game and a No. 2 national ranking in passing offense. Moving to the defensive side of the ball in his second season at Harding, Symons mentored first team All-American Josh Jones, just the fifth Associated Press All-America honoree in Harding history. Named a co-defensive coordinator in 2010, Symons shaped the Bisons into one of the top defenses in NCAA Division II. His 2010 defense ranked first in the nation in sacks (43 in 10 games), eighth in 3rd-down efficiency (27.1%), 11th in tackles for loss (8.3/game), and 13th in rush defense (90 ypg).
Symons left Harding in 2012 to join the staff of Mid-South foe Arkansas State under former coach Gus Malzahn as a defensive quality control coach. There, in addition to his duties preparing scouting reports and film breakdown, he also assisted as a strong safety coach while helping the Red Wolves to a 10-3 record and its first bowl victory since 1970.
After Malzahn left for Auburn, Symons joined the staff at Arkansas Tech in 2013. There, Symons took a defense that finished last in the Great American Conference in 2012 and improved it to seventh in just one season. Following that one season at Arkansas Tech, Symons was hired by Will Hall, now the Tigers’ associate head coach, at West Georgia as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Symons was a two-year starter at linebacker at Lindenwood University in Missouri. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Lindenwood in 2008 and added a master’s degree in education (kinesiology) from Harding University in 2009. Symons coached at Saint Dominic High School outside St. Louis for the 2007 season while completing his undergraduate degree.
He is married to the former Kristen Heinekin. The couple has two children: daughter, Peyton and son, Hudson.
