Scott Milanovich

{{Short description|American gridiron football player and coach (born 1973)}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Scott Milanovich

| image = 2024, Coach Scott Milanovich.jpg

| caption = Milanovich with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2024

| current_team = Hamilton Tiger-Cats

| number =

| position = Head coach

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|1|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 227

| high_school = Butler Senior

| college = Maryland

| undraftedyear = 1996

| expansiondraftyear = 1999

| expansiondraftround = 1

| expansiondraftpick = 29

| pastteams =

| pastcoaching =

  • Rhein Fire ({{RHE season|2003}})
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|2003}})
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Rhein Fire ({{RHE season|2004}})
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Rhein Fire ({{RHE season|2005}})
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Cologne Centurions (2006)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2007}})
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2008}})
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2009|2011}})
    Assistant head coach, offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2012|2016}})
    Head coach
  • Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2017|2019}})
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Edmonton Football Team ({{CFL Year|2020}})
    Head coach
  • Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2021|2022}})
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2023}})
    Senior assistant coach
  • Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2024}}–present)
    Head coach

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Comp. / Att.

| statvalue1 = 2 / 3

| statlabel2 = Passing yards

| statvalue2 = 9

| statlabel3 = Passer rating

| statvalue3 = 70.1

| aflstatlabel1 = Comp. / Att.

| aflstatvalue1 = 101 / 181

| aflstatlabel2 = Passing yards

| aflstatvalue2 = 1,223

| aflstatlabel3 = TDINT

| aflstatvalue3 = 22–4

| aflstatlabel4 = Passer rating

| aflstatvalue4 = 97.92

| afl = 3157

| regular_record = CFL: {{Winning percentage|43|47|record=y}}

| playoff_record = CFL: {{Winning percentage|3|2|record=y}}

| overall_record = CFL: {{Winning percentage|46|49|record=y}}

| pfr = MilaSc00

}}

Scott Stewart Milanovich (born January 25, 1973) is an American professional football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was also the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Football Team of the CFL. Milanovich has also held positional coaching roles in the NFL Europe and the National Football League (NFL).

Milanovich's playing career lasted from 1996 to 2003 as a quarterback in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, in NFL Europe for the Berlin Thunder, in the XFL for the Los Angeles Xtreme, in the Arena Football League for the Tampa Bay Storm, and in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders. Milanovich played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.

Early life

Milanovich played high school football at Butler Senior High School in Butler, Pennsylvania.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111122213937/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MILANSCO01 Scott Milanovich Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com]}}

Playing career

=College=

Milanovich attended the University of Maryland, where he played college football as a quarterback and punter. Milanovich played as a true freshman, backing up John Kaleo and recording 1 touchdown and 1 interception across 11 games. Milanovich started to begin his sophomore year, where he recorded 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, in addition to three rushing touchdowns. He also led the ACC that season in passing attempts, completions, yards, and interceptions. As a junior, Milanovich recorded 20 touchdowns to 9 interceptions, leading the NCAA that season in completion percentage (68.8), leading the ACC again in completions and for the first time in touchdowns. Prior to the 1995 season, Milanovich and four other Maryland players received suspensions for betting on college football and basketball games. Milanovich received an eight-game suspension (later reduced to four[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N7sjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o9AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2517,1660406&dq=scott+milanovich&hl=en Milanovich has suspension reduced], The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, July 19, 1995.) during his senior year for having bet between $25 and $50 on a total of six games. The bets had no impact on the outcome of the games. Milanovich struggled upon his return, throwing for two touchdowns and seven interceptions, though his senior season was the only one in which Maryland had a winning record. Despite his senior struggles, Milanovich still holds several career passing records for Maryland, including attempts, completions, yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns (he is tied with Dick Shiner for career interceptions).

Milanovich was named the MVP for the Blue squad in the Blue-Gray Classic, and completed 9 of 20 pass attempts for 175 yards and two touchdowns.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5zEMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y14DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6322,526471&dq=scott+milanovich&hl=en Milanovich and others seized chance at showcase], The St. Petersburg Times, December 26, 1995.

==College statistics==

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan="2"| Season

! rowspan="2"| GP

! colspan="9"| Passing

CmpAttPctYdsY/AAY/ATDIntRtg
1992

| 11 || 17 || 30 || 56.7 || 232 || 7.7 || 6.9 || 1 || 1 || 126.0

1993

| 11 || 279 || 431 || 64.7 || 3,499 || 8.1 || 7.4 || 26 || 18 || 144.5

1994

| 11 || 229 || 333 || 68.8 || 2,394 || 7.2 || 7.2 || 20 || 9 || 143.6

1995

| 7 || 125 || 188 || 66.5 || 1,176 || 6.3 || 4.8 || 2 || 7 || 115.1

[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/scott-milanovich-1.html?sr Career]4065098266.27,3017.46.84935138.0

=National Football League=

==Tampa Bay Buccaneers==

After going undrafted in the 1996 NFL draft, Milanovich signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his rookie campaign, he was designated as the team's third quarterback for 15 games, seeing action in one contest. In that game he completed two of three passes for nine yards.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MilaSc00.htm |title=Scott Milanovich NFL Football Statistics |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=December 6, 2011}} In 1997, he was declared inactive before all 16 regular season games and both playoff contests.

==Cleveland Browns==

After being left unprotected by the Buccaneers in the 1999 NFL expansion draft, Milanovich was the only quarterback selected by the Cleveland Browns, but he never played for the team.{{cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2017/06/1999_nfl_expansion_draft_look.html |title=1999 NFL expansion draft: Look back at the Cleveland Browns' re-entry into the league |author=Labbe, Dan|work=Cleveland.com |date=June 21, 2017|access-date=October 12, 2018}} He was released by the Browns on June 3, 1999.

==Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second stint)==

On November 30, 1999, after injuries to Buccaneers' quarterbacks Eric Zeier and Trent Dilfer, the Bucs signed Milanovich to serve as the backup quarterback to Shaun King. Milanovich was released by the Buccaneers at the end of training camp the following summer on August 22, 2000.

=XFL=

==Los Angeles Xtreme==

Milanovich was expected to be the starting quarterback for the XFL's Los Angeles Xtreme but lost the job to Tommy Maddox. Milanovich saw limited action as the Xtreme's second-string quarterback, behind Maddox. The Xtreme won the league's championship game, the Million Dollar Game in the original XFL's sole season.

Coaching career

=Rhein Fire=

Milanovich began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in the spring of 2003.

=Calgary Stampeders=

In 2003, Milanovich joined the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League where he was their quarterbacks coach.

=Mansfield University=

Between the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Milanovich was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the now defunct Mansfield University Mountaineers football team.{{cite news|url=http://archive.gomounties.com/Football/Release%20Stories/milanovich.htm |title=MOUNTIES ADD FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK SCOTT MILANOVICH TO FOOTBALL STAFF |publisher=Mansfield University |date=August 24, 2004}}

=Rhein Fire (second stint)=

In 2004, he returned to the Rhein Fire where he served another season as quarterbacks coach. He was elevated to the position of offensive coordinator in 2005.

=Cologne Centurions=

In 2006, Milanovich was the offensive coordinator for the Cologne Centurions.

=Montreal Alouettes=

Milanovich returned to the CFL in February 2007 when he was named quarterbacks coach of the Montreal Alouettes. A year later he was promoted to offensive coordinator. In 2009, he added the title of assistant head coach.

=Toronto Argonauts=

On December 1, 2011, Milanovich was named the 42nd head coach of the Toronto Argonauts.{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/argonauts-name-scott-milanovich-head-coach |title=Argonauts name Scott Milanovich Head Coach | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League |access-date=September 3, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611045537/http://www.cfl.ca/article/argonauts-name-scott-milanovich-head-coach |archive-date=June 11, 2015 }} Argonauts name Scott Milanovich Head Coach His Argonauts won the Grey Cup in his first season at the helm. Following a 9–9 regular season in 2012, Milanovich led the Toronto Argonauts to a 35–22 Grey Cup victory in his debut season as a head coach, and was named the 2012 CFL Coach of the Year.{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2013/02/28/best-of-the-best-milanovich-named-2012-coach-of-the-year/ |title=2012 Coach of the Year |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=February 28, 2013}}

Milanovich's second season as Argonauts head coach was a successful one. The team battled plenty of injuries yet still managed to finish first place in the Eastern Division with an 11–7 record, their first division championship since the 2007 season. The Argonauts would eventually lose in the Eastern Final playoff game to Hamilton.

Due to uncertainty over his future with the Argonauts, Milanovich resigned as the team's head coach.

=Jacksonville Jaguars=

On January 26, 2017, Milanovich was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Doug Marrone.{{cite web |url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Scott-Milanovich-named-quarterbacks-coach/ea1a600b-fa94-4abd-a12d-d25feefa361b |title=Scott Milanovich named quarterbacks coach |work=jaguars.com |access-date=January 26, 2017}} In November 2018, with the Jaguars offense struggling, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was fired and Milanovich assumed play-calling duties.{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Jay|url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/26/jags-name-qb-coach-scott-milanovich-new-offensive-play-caller/|title=Jags name QB coach Scott Milanovich new offensive play-caller|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 26, 2018|access-date=January 13, 2019}} Following the 2018 season, Milanovich then relinquished offensive coordinator duties to the recently hired John DeFilippo.

=2019-2021 coaching=

On December 12, 2019, Milanovich was named the 22nd head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos.{{cite news |title=Eskimos Hire Scott Milanovich as 22nd Head Coach |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/12/12/eskimos-hire-scott-milanovich-22nd-head-coach/ |website=CFL.ca |date=December 12, 2019 |access-date=December 12, 2019}} He remained the Jaguars' quarterbacks coach until the end of the 2019 season.{{cite news |author=Oehser, John |title=Thursday update: Milanovich to CFL |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/thursday-update-milanovich-to-cfl |website=Jaguars.com |date=December 12, 2019 |access-date=December 12, 2019}} He named his coaching staff on January 21, 2020, but the 2020 CFL season was eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Eskimos finalize 2020 coaching staff |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/21/eskimos-finalize-2020-coaching-staff/ |website=CFL.ca |date=January 21, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}{{cite web|title=CFL cancels 2020 season, 'committed' to 2021|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-cancels-2020-season-1.1510345|website=TSN.ca|date=August 17, 2020|access-date=January 25, 2021|publisher=Canadian Press|language=en}} On January 25, 2021, Milanovich resigned as head coach in order to pursue NFL opportunities.{{cite web |title=Milanovich resigns as Edmonton's head coach |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/01/25/milanovich-resigns-edmontons-head-coach/ |website=CFL.ca |date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}

=Indianapolis Colts=

On January 27, 2021, Milanovich was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Frank Reich, replacing Marcus Brady, who was promoted to offensive coordinator.{{Cite web|last=Erickson|first=Joel A.|title=Colts hiring Scott Milanovich as quarterbacks coach|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2021/01/26/colts-hiring-scott-milanovich-quarterbacks-coach/4269120001/|access-date=2021-01-27|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US}}

= Hamilton Tiger-Cats =

On May 11, 2023, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced that Milanovich had joined the organization as a senior assistant coach.{{Cite web |title=Hamilton Tiger-Cats |url=https://ticats.ca/article/134291 |access-date=2023-05-11 |language=en-US}} After the team's offensive coordinator, Tommy Condell, was fired, Milanovich assumed play calling duties on August 7, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/hamilton-tiger-cats-offensive-coordinator-tommy-condell-mutually-agree-to-part-ways-1.1993462 |title=Tiger-Cats, OC Condell mutually agree to part ways |publisher=TSN |date=August 7, 2023}}

On December 6, 2023, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced that Milanovich was promoted to the role of head coach, becoming the 27th head coach in team history.{{cite web|url=https://ticats.ca/article/tiger-cats-name-scott-milanovich-head-coach |title=Tiger-Cats name Scott Milaovich head coach |publisher=Hamilton Tiger-Cats |date=December 6, 2023}}

Head coaching record

=CFL=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"|Teamrowspan="2"|Yearcolspan="5"|Regular Seasoncolspan="4"|Post Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostResult
style="background:#FDE910;"

!TOR||2012

||9||9||0||.500|| 2nd in East Division || 3 || 0 || Won 100th Grey Cup

style="background:#fdd;"

!TOR||2013

||11||7||0||.611||1st in East Division|| 0 || 1 || Lost in East Final

TOR||2014

||8||10||0||.444|| 4th in East Division || – || – || Failed to Qualify

style="background:#fdd;"

!TOR||2015

||10||8||0||.556|| 3rd in East Division || 0 || 1 || Lost in East Semi-Final

TOR||2016

||5||13||0||.278|| 4th in East Division || – || – || Failed to Qualify

HAM||2024

||7||11||0||.389|| 4th in East Division || – || – || Failed to Qualify

colspan="2"|Total||50||58||0||.463||1 Division
Championship
|| 3 || 2 ||1 Grey Cup

Legal troubles

Following his time in Tampa Bay he was charged with driving under the influence for an incident on April 11, 1998. He was pulled over by police in Pinellas Park, Florida, and found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.135.{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1998-04-12-9804120229-story.html|title=BUCS' QB MILANOVICH IS CHARGED WITH DUI|last=Sentinel|first=Orlando|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=April 12, 1998 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-13}} He pleaded no contest and received a $550 fine, probation, 50 hours of community service and six-month driver's license suspension. He was able to pay the Salvation Army in order to avoid the community service requirement.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}

References

{{Reflist}}