Scott Satterfield introduced as UofL football coach

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - It’s official.

About 24 hours after WAVE 3 News reported Scott Satterfield would be UofL’s new football coach, he was formally introduced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Athletic director Vince Tyra introduced Satterfield but not until he spoke at length about his credentials, praising him for his on-field success, as well as for the intangibles Tyra said he was looking for. Tyra said he was aiming to hire a leader who values discipline, player development and establishing continuity among both players and staff. Tyra also said he was hoping to find a coach who wants to be a fit with the university and Louisville communities.

“I wanted someone to want us as bad as we wanted them, and that was true with Scott from day one," said Tyra, who fired coach Bobby Petrino last month with two weeks left in a 2-10 season that saw recruits decommit and even current players leave the program.

Satterfield, the Appalachian State coach who just led the Mountaineers to their third straight Sun Belt Conference championship, opened his remarks by thanking UofL President Dr. Neeli Bendapudi and extending the proper courtesies to his new bosses. He also wasted no time sharing his philosophy on how to change a culture in a program that could use a new one.

“We’re gonna love on these guys,” Satterfield said of his new players. “We’re gonna put our arm around them and bring them up.”

Satterfield said he’ll emphasize things like positive energy, trust, respect and fun. He also talked about “The Other 10," a team-first mentality where the individual will be taught to think about the other guys on the field with him.

“I’m not thinking about me,” he said. “I’m thinking about the other 10.”

Satterfield was the head coach at Appalachian State the past six seasons, racking up three straight Sun Belt Conference titles and three bowl wins. The 2016 crown was the school’s first-ever Sun Belt title.

Under Satterfield’s leadership, Appalachian State became the first program in FBS history to win bowl games in each of its first three seasons of eligibility.

Satterfield talked about the hunger he saw when he met the team.

“We’ve got some hungry young men in (the locker room),” Satterfield said. “They’re starving for discipline, starving for success.”

The new head coach is seemingly fitting in well with CardNation already. Satterfield began his remarks by saying in “being here for five minutes”, he’d already become a big fan of University President Neeli Bendapudi. He also said he was excited for the Governor’s Cup.

“I can’t wait to play Kentucky,” Satterfield said. “That’ll be awesome.”

Satterfield also said he wanted to improve the relationships between UofL football and the programs and schools in the county. He said he wants to have an open door policy, and get to know the high schools around Louisville. Satterfield also mentioned some plans he already has in the works for spring.

“We’re going to set up some spring practices open to high school coaches to clinic and train for free,” Satterfield said.

Contract Details

The UofL Athletic Association approved a six-year deal for Satterfield worth $3.25 million per year. He’ll also have a chance to earn slightly more than $1.2 million in bonuses each year. His buyout would be $5 million.

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Satterfield Bio

Satterfield played quarterback at Appalachian State from 1991-95 and was a position coach there from 1998-2008. Following brief stints at Toledo and Florida International University, he returned to Appalachian State as the offensive coordinator in 2012, then took over as head coach in 2013.

As a head coach, Satterfield has amassed a record of 51-24.

UofL’s hiring of Satterfield completes the school’s Mt. Rushmore overhaul. In the last year, Bendapudi took over as university president, Tyra took over as athletic director and Chris Mack was named the new men’s basketball coach.

Satterfield takes over an embattled football program that just two years ago celebrated its first Heisman Trophy winner in Lamar Jackson, but slogged to a 2-10 finish in a season that at least one longtime writer said was the worst in school history.

Among the decisions made in the ULAA Board meeting, was also the approval of season ticket rates for 2019. Upper level seats will see a reduction, in an effort to increase seating in the upper bowl.

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