TicketsA two-time conference Coach of the Year, Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield enters his third season leading the Bearcats, prepared to elevate the program to new heights in the Big 12.
Hired by Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham on Dec. 5, 2022, as the 43rd head football coach, Satterfield brings a wealth of experience with an 84-64 career record (.568) over 12 seasons at Cincinnati, Louisville, and Appalachian State.
Satterfield guided Appalachian State through a historic transition from FCS to FBS, serving first as an assistant coach (1998-2008) and previously as the Mountaineers' starting quarterback (1991-95). Under his leadership, Appalachian State secured three NCAA Division I FCS national championships and eight conference titles. He called the offensive plays for the Mountaineers legendary upset of No. 5 Michigan in 2007.
As head coach (2013-18), he led the Mountaineers to three consecutive conference titles and four bowl appearances before taking over at Louisville in 2019. A Durham, N.C., native, he was named 2018 Sun Belt Coach of the Year at Appalachian State and earned 2019 ACC Coach of the Year honors after guiding Louisville to an impressive six-win improvement.
Player Development and NFL Success
Satterfield has developed and mentored elite talent, including Walter Payton Award winner and FCS All-American Armanti Edwards at App State.
Beyond Edwards, Satterfield has coached multiple All-Americans and more than 10 NFL Draft picks, including:
- Mekhi Becton (Philadelphia Eagles) – First-round pick (2020), Super Bowl champion offensive lineman from Louisville.
- Tutu Atwell (Los Angeles Rams) – Second round pick (2019), Super Bowl champion and school-record holding wide receiver from Louisville.
- Akeem Davis-Gaither (Cincinnati Bengals) – Current Bengals’ team captain and standout linebacker at Appalachian State.
- Luke Kandra (Cincinnati) – Two-time All-American offensive lineman who followed Satterfield from Louisville and became one of the nation’s top guards.
- Jowon Briggs (Cleveland Browns) – NFL Draft Pick and Cleveland Browns' defensive tackle.
Satterfield also coached Louisville quarterback and current Baltimore Raven Malik Cunningham, who tallied one of the best dual-threat quarterback seasons in ACC history in 2021 with 1,031 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing to go along with 2,941 yards and 19 scores passing.
Cincinnati’s Growth in the Big 12
After a 3-9 debut season in the Big 12, Satterfield led Cincinnati to a 5-7 mark in 2024, showing significant progress. Three Bearcats earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in the highly competitive 16-team league.A proven offensive strategist, Satterfield calls plays with a balanced approach. In 2024, Cincinnati averaged 420.6 yards per game (36th nationally), with Kiner securing a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season, Kandra earning All-American status again, and tight end Joe Royer breaking Travis Kelce’s school record for receptions by a tight end (50).
First-year quarterback Brendan Sorsby emerged as a dynamic dual-threat leader, becoming the only FBS quarterback to record a 425-yard passing game and a 125-yard rushing game in the same season. He finished 2024 as one of only four players nationally with at least 2,800 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, and nine rushing scores.
Retaining Talent & Building a Championship Culture
Cincinnati’s top players showed their trust in Satterfield’s leadership by returning for 2025, embracing the program’s "Effort, Attitude, Toughness" (E.A.T.) culture. First Team All-Big 12 standouts Dontay Corleone and Royer bypassed the NFL Draft, while key contributors like Sorsby, two-time team captain Gavin Gerhardt, and freshman All-American Simeon Coleman remained committed in the transfer portal era.Highlights from 2024 include:
- 24-14 victory over Big 12 champion and CFP participant Arizona State
- 34-0 shutout of Houston – the first shutout of an FBS team in 2024
- Road wins over rivals UCF and Miami (Ohio)
Offensive Success Throughout His Career
Satterfield's teams have consistently been among the nation's best rushing offenses. Across his 12-year FBS head coaching tenure at Appalachian State, Louisville, and Cincinnati, his offenses have averaged over 200 rushing yards per game and finished among the Top 30 rushing teams 11 times.
Additionally, his units have achieved remarkable balance, surpassing both 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards per game in five of the last six seasons.
Before arriving at Cincinnati, Satterfield revitalized Louisville, leading the Cardinals to three bowl games in four years. He inherited a struggling 2-10 team in 2018 and immediately turned things around, finishing 8-5 in 2019. Over four seasons, 32 Louisville players earned All-ACC honors, and six were selected in the NFL Draft.
Appalachian State Excellence
Satterfield’s tenure as Appalachian State’s head coach from 2013 to 2018 stands as one of the most successful eras in program history. Taking over during the Mountaineers' transition from FCS to FBS, he quickly built a dominant Group of Five program that went to four bowl games and won three straight Atlantic Sun Conference championships.
After going 4-8 in his first season, Appalachian State finished 7-5 in its first-ever FBS season in 2014 – winning its final six games.
In 2015, Appalachian State finished 11-2 and made NCAA history as the first team to win a bowl game in its first season of eligibility at the Camellia Bowl. From there, the Mountaineers won three straight Sun Belt Conference championships. Appalachian State went 41-11 with four straight bowl wins in Satterfield’s final four years coaching his alma mater.
Early Career & Personal Life
Satterfield’s coaching career also includes stints as Toledo’s passing game coordinator (2009) and FIU’s offensive coordinator (2010-11).
As a player, he started 27 games at quarterback for Appalachian State and was a First Team All-Conference selection in 1995, graduating with a degree in physical education in 1996.
Satterfield and his wife, Beth—an accomplished track and field athlete—met at Appalachian State. They have three children: daughter Alli and sons Bryce and Isaac.