Cincinnati announces Scott Satterfield as 43rd head football coach

CINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati director of athletics John Cunningham announced Monday that Scott Satterfield will be Cincinnati’s 43rd head soccer coach.

Satterfield holds a 76-48 record (.612) in 10 years as a head coach at Louisville and Appalachian State and holds a winning streak in seven seasons, in addition to a 4-1 record in bowl games. He led the Mountaineers to three straight conference titles and four bowl appearances from 2013-2018 before taking over the Cardinals in 2019.

Satterfield’s contract is a six-year deal that is subject to board approval and review. It will pay him $3.4 million in the first year, with an annual increase of $100,000. The assistant coach’s soccer staff salary pool has grown to $7.25 million, bringing total compensation to the soccer coaching team to $10.65 million per year — the largest investment ever made in Cincinnati soccer.

With an explosive offensive attack, he has led Louisville to three bowls in four seasons. He lifted the Cardinals from a 2-10 campaign in 2018 to an 8-5 record in his debut season in 2019.

A Durham, NC native, Satterfield was the 2018 Appalachian State Sun Belt Coach of the Year before earning ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2019 after leading the Cardinals to a six-win improvement in his freshman year.

“Scott Satterfield is a proven winner, a relentless competitor and a creator of culture,” said Cunningham. “He’s an innovative offensive spirit and a leader who develops men on and off the field. He’s a perfect fit to expand that program and take us into the Big 12 next season and beyond. I am very pleased to welcome Scott, his wife Beth, and their three children Bryce, Isaac and Alli to Cincinnati.”

During his time in Louisville, he’s put on a 25-24 record and seen 32 players earn All-ACC honors. Three cardinals were also selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.

In 2022, Satterfield led Louisville to a 7-5 mark and saw 13 players earn All-Conference honors. The Cardinals emerged in the college football playoff rankings, beating two top-25 teams.

“I’m honored to be the next head coach at the University of Cincinnati and look forward to building on the tradition of success this program has had over the past 20 years,” said Satterfield. “My family and I have admired this university and sports department from afar for many years. I’m excited to get Cincinnati into the Big 12 this fall and ready to fight for championships. I’m most looking forward to getting to know the current team and starting to build relationships with these young men. We’re going to hit the ground running today. Go Bearcats!”

Satterfield, who is 49, led Appalachian State from FCS to FBS as head coach after serving as an assistant coach (1998-08) and quarterback for the Mountaineers (1991-95) and helping grow his alma mater in three NCAA Divisions to lead I National FCS titles and eight conference championships along the way.

Among his many career highlights in Boone, NC, was mentoring Walter Payton for Player of the Year and FCS All-American Armanti Edwards and helping lead the Mountaineers to an historic 34-32 win at No. 5 Michigan to to open the 2007 season.

He also spent one season as passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Toledo in 2009 and two seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at FIU in 2010-11.

Satterfield started 27 games for Appalachian State and collected the 1995 first-team all-conference. In 1996 he graduated with a degree in physical education.

Satterfield and his wife, Beth, have a daughter, Alli, and two sons, Bryce and Isaac.