Davidson (Pioneer Football League) head coach Scott Abell is leaving for the same position at Rice (American Athletic). Abell went 47-28 overall in 7 seasons with the Wildcats and leaves as the school’s winningest coach all-time.
Prior to taking over at Davidson, Abell was a high school assistant and head coach from 1993 through 2007. He moved up to the college ranks in 2008 as the offensive coordinator at NCAA Division III Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. After 4 years as the OC, he moved up to the head coaching position in 2012 and compiled an overall record of 39-24 with 3 D-III playoff appearances in 6 seasons.
In 2018, Davidson hired him as head coach after the program went 7-43 over the previous 5 seasons from 2013 through 2017. Abell led the Wildcats to three consecutive FCS Playoff appearances from 2020 through 2022 and won both the PFL title and PFL Coach of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021. Over his 7 seasons in charge, Davidson never posted a losing season en route to a 47-28 overall record and a 35-18 PFL record. Abell is 86-52 overall and 63-31 in conference games for his career.
Davidson is slated to open the 2025 season at Georgetown on Saturday, August 31.
Photo Credit to Davidson College Athletics
