Scott Symons enters his third season as Harding's co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 2012. He spent the two previous seasons as a graduate assistant.
In 2011, Harding's defense led the Great American Conference in total defense and sacks and ranked second in rushing defense and turnovers.
In the 2010 season, Symons tutored senior cornerback Eddie Russ, Jr., who signed a free agent contract with a Canadian Football League team following the season. Symons was part of a defensive staff that saw its charges lead Division II in sacks per game and rank eighth in opponents' third-down conversion percentage. The defense was also second in the GSC in rushing and third in total defense.
In 2009 as cornerbacks coach, Symons coached senior defensive back Josh Jones to All-America honors and a spot in the Cactus Bowl All-Star Game. Jones, who played rover, led Harding with 94 tackles and eight interceptions.
Prior to coming to Harding, Symons was the linebackers and receivers coach and the junior varsity head coach at Saint Dominic High School in O'Fallon, Mo., for the 2007-08 school year.
Symons, a graduate of Fort Worth Christian School, played outside linebacker at Lindenwood University from 2004-07 and earned his bachelor's degree in history. He was selected to the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and attended in the summer of 2006. He has worked with abused and neglected children as a counselor at Royal Family Kids Camp for the last four years.
A native of Mission Viejo, Calif., Symons married the former Kristen Heineken of Columbia, Ill., on June 28, 2008.
