Former Howard Coach Larry Scott Joins Auburn

Scott opens up about tough decision to leave HBCU program for Power 5 opportunity

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Former Howard University head football coach Larry Scott is joining the coaching staff at Auburn University as Tight End coach. In an interview, Scott spoke about the difficulty of the decision to leave the HBCU program, emphasizing the impact it has on the players, coaches, and support staff he recruited and worked with at Howard.

Why it matters

Scott's move from a prominent HBCU program to a Power 5 school like Auburn is noteworthy, as it highlights the ongoing challenge HBCUs face in retaining top coaching talent who are often lured by more resources and prestige at larger universities. This transition also raises questions about the future of Howard's football program and its ability to maintain competitiveness in the MEAC conference.

The details

During his tenure at Howard, Scott led the Bison to the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl and won two straight MEAC titles in 2022 and 2023. He recruited talented players like Eden James, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James. However, this past season Howard finished 5-7 with a 2-3 conference record, losing several key games after a thrilling homecoming overtime victory over Morgan State.

  • Scott was the head coach at Howard University from 2021 to 2025.
  • In 2023, Scott led Howard to the Cricket Celebration Bowl and won two straight MEAC titles.
  • In the 2025 season, Howard finished 5-7 with a 2-3 conference record.

The players

Larry Scott

Former head football coach at Howard University who is joining the coaching staff at Auburn University as Tight End coach.

Eden James

Talented player recruited by Scott during his time at Howard, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James.

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What they’re saying

“It was a tough decision. It was a real tough decision, because it not only impacted me and all the young men that we've had a chance to bring in there and recruit there, but other coaches and other support staff and people in their lives, the impact that one person's decision has on a lot of different people obviously comes with a heavy burden, and it was very cumbersome for me.”

— Larry Scott, Former Howard University Head Coach (Montgomery Advertiser)

“An opportunity to coach at Auburn University, a place that is capable of playing for national titles, year in and year out. The brand that is Auburn, and then the people.”

— Larry Scott, Former Howard University Head Coach (Montgomery Advertiser)

What’s next

Scott will begin his new role as Tight End coach at Auburn University for the upcoming 2026 season.

The takeaway

Scott's departure from Howard University to join the coaching staff at Auburn highlights the ongoing challenge HBCUs face in retaining top coaching talent, as they often lose out to larger, more resource-rich Power 5 programs. This transition raises questions about the future competitiveness of Howard's football program in the MEAC conference.