William and Mary defensive coordinator Scott Boone left to take the same position at the University of Nevada.
Boone has been at W&M for the past 10 seasons, the last three as defensive coordinator. He will coach Nevada’s linebackers and coordinate the defense, just as he did at William and Mary.
“You’re never really looking, but you’re always kind of looking,” Boone said. “The opportunity to further your career at a (Football Bowl Subdivision) program is something you have to look at.
“It wasn’t like I was actively looking at Nevada or any other position. But we played great all year, which gave us some national notoriety and people noticed. That prompted a conversation and it went from there.”
Boone, 54, didn’t know Nevada head coach Brian Polian, but a mutual friend in the coaching profession floated his name. The two had a conversation, after which Polian invited Boone to Reno for an interview.
Polian looked for a defensive coordinator after his previous coordinator, Scottie Hazelton, took a job with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month.
“After an extensive national search, we are really excited to announce the addition of Scott Boone to our staff,” Polian said in a statement released through Nevada’s athletic department. “Scott brings a wealth of football knowledge to our program and his defenses have produced at a high level in one of the premier conferences at the FCS level. He is a fit within our coaching staff and his philosophy of 4-3 defense will provide some continuity for our players.”
Tribe head coach Jimmye Laycock said, “I wish him well. He did a great job for us. He’s a loyal coach, a good coach.”
An effective recruiter and coach, Boone oversaw one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s top defenses, as well as one of the best in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Tribe led the CAA in scoring defense (14 ppg), total defense (305.1 ypg) and opponents’ third-down conversions (33 pct.). W&M was second in rushing defense (117.7), pass defense (187.4) and pass efficiency defense.
“First of all, I’d like to thank Coach Laycock for giving me the opportunity to come to William and Mary 10 years ago and the last three years for giving me the opportunity to run the defense,” Boone said. “It’s been a tremendous learning experience for me as a coach. He’s an excellent mentor and he runs a program the way it’s supposed to be run.
“William and Mary is a great place to work and gets great kids who respond to coaching and play the game the right way. Those are the reasons you get opportunities like this. I owe a great, great debt of gratitude to the kids on defense the past couple years because of how they played, and to Coach Laycock for giving me a chance.”
Laycock said that he hasn’t decided on Boone’s replacement, but, “fortunately, we’ve got good, capable people on the staff and we’ll look there first.”
Defensive backs coach Tom Clark previously served as coordinator from 2001-03, and longtime assistant Trevor Andrews, the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, enters his 14th season.
