Scott Thomas Linehan (born September 17, 1963) is the head coach of the of the St. Louis Rams. He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and the Minnesota Vikings for three seasons (2002-04).
Scott Linehan was born and raised in Sunnyside, Washington, the son of a high school principal and the youngest of seven children. He graduated from high school in 1982, and accepted an athletic scholarship to play college football at the University of Idaho, one hundred miles to the east. Linehan was a quarterback for the Vandals under head coaches Dennis Erickson (1982-85) and Keith Gilbertson. He redshirted in 1982, was the back-up to senior QB Ken Hobart in 1983, and became the starter in 1984, but missed several games due to injuries. Although the 1984 season started poorly at 2-5, the Vandals won their last four games to finish at 6-5. In 1985, a healthy Linehan led Idaho to the Big Sky title and consecutive I-AA playoff appearances in 1985 & 1986. His career passing yardage for the Vandals was over 7000 yards. He received his bachelor's degree in public relations in December 1986, and signed a rookie free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 1987, but a shoulder injury quickly ended his playing 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 Josten's. Inspired by watching his former college coach Dennis Erickson's WSU Cougars defeat UCLA in the Rose Bowl on television in late October 1988, Linehan decided he definitely needed to be a coach on a full-time basis.
He returned to Idaho as the wide receivers coach in 1989 under John L. Smith, then went to UNLV as the quarterbacks coach for a season in 1991, then back to Idaho (1992-93) as a quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator. In 1994, Linehan moved over to Washington to coach under Jim Lambright, beginning as the wide receivers coach, then adding offensive coordinator duties in 1996. In January 1999, Lambright was replaced as head coach by Rick Neuheisel. Linehan moved east and became the offensive coordinator at Louisville under head coach John L. Smith, whom he worked for in both coaching stints at Idaho.
Linehan stayed for three years with Louisville, then moved up to the professional level in 2002, serving under Mike Tice as the offensive coordinator of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for three seasons. Nick Saban hired him for the same position in Miami in 2005. He was hired as the head coach of the St. Louis Rams in early 2006.
Linehan's wife, the former Kristen Browitt is the sister-in-law of actor Jim Caviezel. She and Caviezel's wife Kerri are sisters.
