Scott Vallone, a former assistant coach at St. Lawrence University, enters his second year as the Fordham defensive line coach in 2019, his first as associate head coach.

In his first year at Fordham, Vallone guided a defensive line that helped the Rams lead the Patriot League and rank 20th in the NCAA FCS in tackles for loss (7.5/game).

Vallone joined the Fordham staff after spending two years at St. Lawrence University as the team’s defensive coordinator. He also coached the linebackers in 2017 and the defensive line in 2016.
 
In 2017, Vallone saw linebacker Skyler Williamson earn Liberty Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Region honors along with three other players who earned All-Liberty Conference accolades. The St. Lawrence defense led the Liberty Conference in fourth down conversion (seventh in the NCAA), tackles for loss (12th in the NCAA), first downs defense (41st in the NCAA), third down conversion and sacks.
 
In 2016, Vallone led the Saints defense to one of the most dominant seasons in program history. St. Lawrence was the top-ranked team in the Liberty League in 13 defensive categories and ranked in the top 10 in the nation in five categories, including scoring defense (second, 11.0 points allowed per game), defensive touchdowns (third, six in 10 games), first downs defense (seventh overall and third among teams that played more than eight games, 129 allowed), red zone defense (seventh, .500), and tackles for loss (ninth, 9.1 per game).

Among the Saints’ defensive leaders was Chyron Brown-Wallace '17, the most decorated St. Lawrence football player in nearly 35 years. He earned the highest vote total among NCAA Division III athletes for the Cliff Harris Award, which recognizes the best small college defensive player in the nation. A two-time American Football Coaches Association First-Team All-American, Brown-Wallace was the 2016 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year and earned D3football.com All-American honors. He was a three-time First-Team All-Liberty League selection and earned St. Lawrence’s Martha Finch Outstanding Male Senior Athlete Award. 

Vallone also lent guidance to Alec Dietsch '17, a linebacker from Clarence, New York. Dietsch finished the 2016 season with 73 tackles including 37 solo stops, 10.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and was named a member of D3football.com’s All-East Region Third Team, All-Liberty League First Team, ECAC All-North Region Second Team and the Liberty League All-Academic Team.

Vallone served as the defensive line assistant coach at his alma mater, Rutgers University, in 2015 and started his coaching career as St. Lawrence’s defensive line coach in 2014. 

Vallone graduated from Rutgers in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics.  A four-year starter for the Scarlet Knights at defensive tackle, he was a First Team All-Big East selection and the school’s Best Rush Lineman Award winner as a senior after posting a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss. He finished his career with 195 tackles and made 51 consecutive starts. A Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America in 2009, he scored a touchdown against North Carolina Central after recovering a fumble in the end zone in the first game of the 2011 season.

Following graduation, Vallone had professional stints with three NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots.  He also spent time in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes.