May 16, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA., May 15, 2008 - Assistant Nittany Lion basketball coach Hilliary Scott has been named the new head coach at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va.
The NCAA Division III Hornets introduced Scott as their new head coach Thursday afternoon. Scott will be taking on his first head coaching position after 11 years as an assistant coach, 10 under Nittany Lion head coach Ed DeChellis. Scott has served the last five years on DeChellis' Penn State staff and spent the previous five years helping DeChellis guide East Tennessee State University to three straight Southern Conference North Division titles and the school's first NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade.
"I'm excited to be heading home and to have the opportunity to lead my own program," Scott said. "I have a lot of family in the area and it was just the perfect opportunity for me and my family.
"It's hard to leave the players, coaches and fans at Penn State and the program we have built. We've got a great young team coming back next year and I think they have some great things ahead of them, but this was just the right opportunity for me at this time. The toughest part is leaving Coach DeChellis who has been a great mentor and friend who I have spent more than a decade with. He has had a tremendous impact on my career and my family and has really gotten Penn State headed in the right direction."
Scott will be returning to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference where he earned Player of the Year honors and was named a two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-American while a star at Roanoke College in Virginia. Born and raised in Lynchburg, Scott is one of only seven Roanoke players to have their jersey retired.
Scott was instrumental in recruiting several top Nittany Lions during the last five years, including 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jamelle Cornley.
"Hilliary has been a tremendous part of my coaching staffs for more than a 10 years now," DeChellis said. "We will miss Hilliary and his family greatly, but are very happy for him and the opportunity he has to take another step in his coaching career and also move back home. We wish him all the best."
Scott and his wife, Lisa, recently welcomed a daughter, Haley, to go with their two-year old son Isaiah.