Scott Linehan

Scott Thomas Linehan (born September 17, 1963) is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St. Louis Rams and the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to becoming an NFL coach in 2002, he was a collegiate assistant coach for thirteen seasons.

Early life
Linehan was born and raised in Sunnyside, Washington, now a city of 16,000 in the lower Yakima Valley of eastern Washington. About three hours southeast of Seattle, Sunnyside bills itself as the "Asparagus Capital of the Northwest." He was a three-year starter at quarterback at Sunnyside High School, where his father was principal. Linehan graduated in 1982 and accepted a scholarship to play college football at the University of Idaho in Moscow, two hundred miles (320 km) to the east. He was a member of Dennis Erickson's first recruiting class as a collegiate head coach.

Playing career
Linehan was a quarterback for the Vandals under head coaches Erickson (1982–85) and Keith Gilbertson. He redshirted in 1982 and was the back-up to senior All-American Ken Hobart in 1983. Linehan became the starter in 1984 as a redshirt sophomore, but broke his clavicle early in the second game and missed most of that game and two additional starts. The Vandals struggled to a 2-5 record, then won four straight to finish 6-5 and third in the Big Sky. The season concluded with a 37-0 victory in the rivalry game with Boise State in Bronco Stadium. In 1985, Linehan led Idaho to a 5-1 record as a starter, then a stress fracture in his right foot required surgery and sidelined him for the season. Idaho won the Big Sky title and had consecutive Division I-AA playoff appearances in 1985 and 1986. Finally healthy for a full season as a fifth-year senior in 1986, Idaho went 8-3 in the regular season and he threw for 2,954 yards, ending his college career with over 7,000 yards. Not selected in the 1987 NFL Draft, Linehan signed a rookie free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 1987, but a shoulder injury quickly ended his playing career when he was cut at the start of his rookie training camp.

Coaching career
Linehan began his coaching career as a volunteer coach at Sunset High School in Portland in 1987. At this time he was also helping a friend with his business, selling class rings for Jostens.

His college coaching career began in 1989 as the wide receivers coach at his alma mater, under first-year head coach John L. Smith. After two seasons in Moscow, Linehan coached a year at UNLV, two back at Idaho, five at Washington, and three at Louisville. He took his first NFL job as the offensive coordinator/ wide receivers coach with the Minnesota Vikings in 2002. After three seasons in Minneapolis, Linehan served in a similar capacity with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 under Nick Saban, then was hired as head coach by the St. Louis Rams on January 19, 2006.

His tenure as the Rams' head coach was marked by disputes (on and off the field) with star players such as Steven Jackson, Torry Holt, and, most notoriously, quarterback Marc Bulger, whom he benched for his final game as head coach. Linehan was fired after the fourth game of the 2008 season after an 11-25 record in his 36 games as head coach.

On January 9, 2009, Linehan interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers as a candidate for the open offensive coordinator position. A second interview with the 49ers was held on January 15, 2009. and then declined the offer.

Linehan was announced as the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions on January 23, 2009, by new head coach Jim Schwartz.

Personal life
Linehan is the youngest of seven children of William and Margaret Linehan &mdash; he has three brothers and three sisters. His father Bill (1921-98) was born in Plummer, Idaho, and was the high school principal in Sunnyside, after serving in World War II with the U.S. Army in the Pacific. Both parents and a sister attended the University of Idaho, as did brothers Ron and Rick, who also played football at Idaho. Ron (1950-2005) was a three-time All-Big Sky linebacker (1969-71) and was selected in the 1972 NFL Draft; he was a high school coach in the Portland area until his death at age 55. Rick had ten career interceptions as a Vandal defensive back (1976-78).

Linehan and his wife of over 20 years, Kristen, have three sons: Matthew, Michael, and Marcus. He is of Irish descent and is a devout Catholic.

Head coaching record
*Fired four games into 2008 season

Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Linehan has served:
 * Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions (2009–present)
 * Nick Saban, Miami Dolphins (2005)
 * Mike Tice, Minnesota Vikings (2002–2004)

College head coaches under whom Linehan served:
 * John L. Smith, Louisville (1999–2001)
 * Jim Lambright, Washington (1994–1998)
 * John L Smith, Idaho (1992–1993)
 * Jim Strong, UNLV (1991)
 * John L Smith, Idaho (1989–1990)

College head coaches under whom Linehan played:
 * Keith Gilbertson, Idaho (1986)
 * Dennis Erickson, Idaho (1982–1985)

Trivia

 * Linehan credits Dennis Erickson, his coach at Idaho, as the "biggest influence" on Linehan's attack-style offensive philosophies.
 * Fellow NFL head coach Tom Cable and ESPN analyst (and former NFL player) Mark Schlereth both blocked for Linehan during his playing days at Idaho.
 * Actor James Caviezel is Linehan's brother-in-law – Linehan's wife, Kristen, and Caviezel's wife, Kerri, are sisters.