Mathew Scott Named VMI Head Cross Country Coach

Mathew Scott was announced as the new head coach of the VMI men’s and women’s cross country teams by Zack Scott ’89, VMI director of track and field, March 12, 2024.

Scott comes to VMI from Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas, where he served as the director of cross country and track/middle and long distance coach from January 2022 to the present. Among many responsibilities, his principal duties were directing and coaching all aspects of the cross country and track and field programs; evaluating and recruiting student-athletes; and overseeing the planning, organization, and administration of practices.

“We are looking forward to Mathew Scott working with the distance group,” said Zack. “He will bring a solid background in not only distance running but also recruiting and connections to distance runners in the Midwest.”

From September 2019 to October 2021, Scott served as the assistant coach for the cross country and track programs at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, where he also had the title of recruiting coordinator. In addition to his duties and roles associated with coaching, he served as an adjunct professor of exercise science while at Ottawa.

Prior to moving to Kansas, Scott was the Alderson Broaddus University cross country and track and field assistant coach in Philippi, West Virginia, where he also held the title of recruiting coordinator.

Scott worked as the middle/distance coach and hurdles coach at Mobridge Pollock School District in Mobridge, South Dakota, from August 2016 through October 2018. During this time he also was employed as a special education paraprofessional for the district.

Outside of coaching cross country and track and field, Scott has held various positions ranging from park ranger to physical education teacher to athletic director at the high school level in South Dakota.

He holds U.S.A Track & Field Level One and Level Two certificates and is also licensed to administer CPR, first aid, and AED.

The South Dakota native earned his Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 2008. He later attended graduate school at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he earned a Master of Science degree in sports science in 2014.