Georgia Southern University Athletics

A veteran of the college coaching ranks with over two decades of experience, Scot Sloan is in his fourth season as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach under head coach Chad Lunsford.

In 2020, Sloan’s group led the FBS with 18 interceptions and also recorded 23 sacks. Raymond Johnson III earned All-America honors and Derrick Canteen was named a Freshman All-American after tying for the FBS lead in interceptions with six. The defense finished 15th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game and 14th in total defense. In all, nine different players earned all-conference plaudits from at least one outlet.

In 2019, the Eagle defense took big steps forward, finishing third in the conference in scoring and total defense and first among Sun Belt schools in tackles for loss and fumbles recovered. Kindle Vildor was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft and Donald Rutledge Jr. signed on with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. 

His 2018 Georgia Southern squad featured an All-American in Kindle Vildor, along with five other players who earned all-conference honors. The defense had 15 interceptions and was a big part of the +22 turnover margin that led the FBS. 

The Eagles posted the best improvement in the FBS in defensive yards per play from 2017 to 2018, as well, moving up 72 spots in a year. The group finished first in the Sun Belt in interceptions, second in turnovers forced, third in total defense, third in rush defense .

Sloan spent eight seasons as App State’s secondary coach and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in the spring of 2017. He also served as Appalachian’s recruiting coordinator his final six seasons in Boone. In his eight seasons at Appalachian State, Sloan mentored App’s first FBS Freshman All-American in Clifton Duck in 2016, two NCAA Division I FCS all-Americans (Mark LeGree in 2010 and Demetrius McCray in 2011) and 16 all-conference honorees. 

Sloan mentored one of the nation’s top secondaries and pass defenses his last three seasons at App, helping lead the Mountaineers to a pair of Sun Belt titles and three bowl games. App State had 53 interceptions his last three seasons at Appalachian, second-most nationally behind San Diego State.

In 2017, seven defensive players earned first-team all-conference honors, including three from his secondary, as the Mountaineers were ranked in the top 20 nationally in interceptions, sacks and turnover margin. En route to capturing the 2016 Sun Belt title, App State allowed only 10.8 points per game in Sun Belt play. The impressive showing in 2016 came on the heels of a strong 2015 in which the team had 18 interceptions. 

In all, Sloan coached two National Football League Draft picks (LeGree and McCray) in his eight seasons at Appalachian. Former safety Doug Middleton played with the New York Jets, Alex Gray signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and A.J. Howard won a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots.

As the program’s recruiting coordinator, Sloan helped nail down four highly regarded signing classes, the first (2012) coming despite him not taking over as recruiting coordinator until just six weeks prior to National Signing Day. The Mountaineers’ 2014 recruiting class — its first as an NCAA Division I FBS program — was ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference by 247Sports while Sloan was tabbed as the Sun Belt’s top recruiter by Scout.com. 

Immediately preceding his arrival at Appalachian State in 2010, Sloan spent three years at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, culminating with him serving as the program’s head coach in 2009. During his three-year stint at Riverside, which included two seasons (2007-08) as defensive coordinator, he helped lead the Eagles to three playoff berths and an 18-15 overall record. He was also the school’s athletics director for two years (2008-09).

Prior to his stint at Riverside, Sloan was the defensive coordinator at Griffin (Ga.) H.S. in 2006, where his squad posted an 11-1 record and advanced to the second round of the Georgia state playoffs. The team’s lone loss came at the hands of then-QB/FS, now Chiefs All-Pro Eric Berry.

Before spending four years in the high-school ranks, Sloan was a successful assistant at Georgia Southern (defensive backs, 2002-05), Georgia Military College (defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator/defensive backs, 1996-2001) and Clemson (graduate assistant, 1992-95).

While at Georgia Southern, he helped lead the Eagles to two Southern Conference championships and three NCAA Division I-AA playoff berths. He mentored three All-Americans, six all-conference selections and one NFL Draft pick (David Young — 2003 sixth round, Jacksonville Jaguars) in his first stint in Statesboro.

At Georgia Military, he coordinated a defense that set a National Junior College Athletic Association record for total defense while winning the NJCAA national championship in 2001.

Sloan’s four-year stint as a graduate assistant at Clemson included two bowl appearances and came on the heels of a successful playing career for the Tigers. 

He played defensive back at Clemson from 1989-91, was a member of three bowl teams and helped lead the squad to the 1991 Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Sloan owns a pair of degrees from Clemson and one from Lincoln Memorial University. He is married to the former Stephanie Crisco. They have two sons: Seth and Samuel.

THE SLOAN FILE
Personal
Hometown: Woodruff, S.C.
Born: August 25, 1970 in Spartanburg, S.C.
College: Clemson (1992; 1994); Lincoln Memorial (2008)
Family: wife, Stephanie; sons, Seth and Samuel

Playing Experience
Clemson (1989-91)

Coaching Experience
2018- Georgia Southern (defensive coordinator/safeties)
2017 App State (co-defensive coordinator/secondary/recruiting coordinator)
2011-16 App State (secondary/recruiting coordinator)
2010 App State (secondary)
2009 Riverside (Ga.) Military Academy (head coach/athletics director)
2007-08 Riverside (Ga.) Military Academy (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/athletics director)
2006 Griffin (Ga.) High School (defensive coordinator/defensive backs)
2002-05 Georgia Southern (defensive backs)
2000-01 Georgia Military College (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator)
1996-99 Georgia Military College (defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator/defensive backs)
1993-95 Clemson (graduate assistant)
1992 Clemson (video graduate assistant)

College Bowl/Postseason Experience
Coach
2020 New Orleans (GS vs. Louisiana Tech)
2019 Cure (GS vs. Liberty) 
2018 Camellia (GS vs. Eastern Michigan)
2017 Dollar General (App State vs. Toledo)
2016 Camellia (App State vs. Toledo)
2015 Camellia (App State vs. Ohio)
2005 NCAA FCS First Round (GS)
2004 NCAA FCS First Round (GS)
2002 NCAA FCS Semifinals (GS)
1995 Gator (Clemson vs. Syracuse)
1993 Peach (Clemson vs. Kentucky)
Player
1991 Citrus (Clemson vs. Cal)
1990 Hall of Fame (Clemson vs. Illinois)
1989 Gator (Clemson vs. West Virginia)

Prominent Pupils
Donald Rutledge Jr. (S): Indianapolis Colts
Joshua Moon (S): Jacksonville Jaguars
AJ Howard (S): New England Patriots
Doug Middleton (S): New York Jets
Demetrius McCray (CB): Jacksonville Jaguars