Thomas Lawrence Scott (October 9, 1907 – June 1962) was the very first head coach of the

Old Dominion Monarchs football The Old Dominion Monarchs football program represents Old Dominion University in U.S. college football. The first iteration of the team created in 1930 was known as the William & Mary Norfolk Division Braves. Founded in 2009, the current Monarchs ...

(then known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary) team (then known as the "Braves"), which was established in 1930 and discontinued after the 1939 season for eligibility and debt concerns. He coached the Braves to a 62–19–4 record during his tenure, including a 9–1 record in 1932 that resulted in an accidental tripExplanation of the accidental Orange Bowl invitation
ODU Football archives. Retrieved on 16 January 2010. to play in the

Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Miami metropolitan area. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935, making it, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, the second-oldest bowl game ...

against the

Miami Hurricanes The Miami Hurricanes (known informally as The U, UM, or The 'Canes) are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The Hurricanes compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic A ...

. The Braves lost 6–2. Aside from coaching football at Old Dominion, Scott also coached the track, baseball and men's basketball teams despite the fact that there were no facilities to practice on for any of the programs. The Braves had to play on makeshift fields and use hand-me-down uniforms from

the College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William I ...

. He retired from teaching and coaching in 1941 to pursue a business career. Scott was a 1926 graduate of

Maury High School Matthew Fontaine Maury High School also known as Maury High School, is a high school located in the Ghent area of Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Maury's school mascot is the Commodore. The high school is named for Matthew Fontaine Maury. In 2 ...

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

, and then a 1930 graduate of

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

in Lexington. While at VMI, he played left end for the Keydets football team.

References

External links

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame profile
1907 births 1962 deaths American football ends Baseball players from Norfolk, Virginia Basketball coaches from Virginia Basketball players from Norfolk, Virginia Old Dominion University faculty Old Dominion Monarchs athletic directors Old Dominion Monarchs baseball coaches Old Dominion Monarchs men's basketball coaches Old Dominion Monarchs football coaches People from Onancock, Virginia Players of American football from Norfolk, Virginia Sportspeople from Norfolk, Virginia VMI Keydets baseball players VMI Keydets basketball players VMI Keydets football players American men's basketball players {{Amfoot-bio-stub