Last Updated: Feb. 14, 2025
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CoachIzzy1
Scott Isphording has held multiple roles with the Bobcats in his 10+ years with the program, starting his second tour of duty in Athens and his first as the Bobcats’ quarterbacks coach in 2014. He was named offensive coordinator in Jan. 2025.
Isphording coached three of Ohio's greatest quarterbacks, Nathan Rourke (2017-19), Kurtis Rourke (2019-23) and Parker Navarro (2022-24).
After gaining his first college start against Georgia Southern in the 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl, Navarro cemented himself in program history in 2024. Navarro is the second quarterback in program history to log over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season (1,062), an accomplishment an Ohio quarterback hasn't claimed since 1996. Notably, Navarro is the first quarterback in program history to record over 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Navarro finished the 2024 season well-decorated, earning four Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week nods, making two Davey O'Brien "Great 8" lists, Second Team All-MAC Offense honors, MAC Offensive MVP following championship game and 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl MVP accolades.
During the Bobcats' final regular season game in 2023, Kurtis Rourke passed Nathan as the second leading passer in program history. In total, he threw for 7,650 yards during his time as a Bobcat. Following the 2022 season, Kurtis Rourke was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Vern Smith Leadership Award and First-Team All-MAC after playing in just 11 games. Kurtis Rourke set program records on Sept. 24 of passing yards in a game (537) and most completions (41), while tying the program single-game touchdown record with five against Akron.
2022 saw Ohio's offense lead the MAC in points per game (31.8), yards per game (421.4), average yard per play (6.2) and most passing yards (3,893). Ohio's passing yard total set a program record by over 400 yards.
Nathan Rourke was named to the 2019 All-Mid-American Conference First Team after being named to the All-MAC Second Team the previous two seasons. He was named MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week three times during his senior season, bringing his career total to nine.
Nathan Rourke set career highs in completions (200; sixth-most in program history), attempts (328; eighth-most in program history), completion percentage (61.0 percent; sixth-best in program history), passing yards (2,820; fourth-most in program history) and passing yards per game (216.9; fifth-most in program history) while throwing for 20 touchdown passes (tied for fourth-most in program history) against a career-low five interceptions in 2019. His passing efficacy rating of 150.3 ranked as the second-best in the MAC and second-best in program history. The dual-threat quarterback also got it done with his legs, ranking second on the team with 867 rushing yards and leading the squad with 13 rushing touchdowns (tied for seventh-most in program history). He accounted for 3,687 yards of total offense (second-most in program history) and averaged 7.65 yards per play (second-most in program history).
Isphording coached Nathan Rourke to a 24-13 as starting quarterback and was under center for an unprecedented three-straight bowl victories Nathan Rourke was a two-time winner of the Jon Cornish Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding Canadian player in NCAA Football.
In 2016, Ohio’s quarterbacks set single-season records in pass attempts with 458 combined. They also completed the second-most passes in school history with 250. Ohio passed for 3,142 yards which was second-most in school history and threw for 22 touchdown passes which ranks fourth all-time.
In 2015, the Bobcat quarterbacks passed for 3,026 yards, which ranks third all-time in program history. The offense totaled 5,378 yards, which ranks third all-time in program history as well.
In Isphording’s first season working with the Bobcat quarterbacks, both Derrius Vick and JD Sprague found success through the air and on the ground. The duo combined for 11 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns.
The offense totaled 4,443 yards of offense which ranks fifth all-time in program history. Vick and Sprague threw for 2,474 yards for this season, which is sixth all-time in program history.
Isphording returned to Ohio University after he spent four years at the University of Toledo, beginning as the quarterbacks coach from 2010-11. In 2012, he added the roles of passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator to his list of responsibilities.
During his four-year stint with the Rockets, Isphording helped guide Toledo to 24 wins, three bowl games, the 2011 Military Bowl title and a 2011 Mid-American Conference West Co-Championship title. In his two seasons as the program’s recruiting coordinator, he helped the Rockets earn the MAC’s top recruiting class in both 2012 and 2013, according to Rivals.com and Scout.com. Scout.com also selected Isphording as the MAC Recruiter of the Year.
Isphording joined the Rockets’ staff in 2010 after spending 2009 as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Ohio University. Isphording helped guide Ohio to a 9-5 record, a MAC East Division Championship and a berth in the Motor City Bowl.
Isphording coached at Eastern Michigan from 2004-08, and was the offensive coordinator in his final two seasons there. In 2008, he led the Eagles to a school-record 5,010 total yards and topped the league in red-zone efficiency, red-zone touchdown efficiency and time of possession. Isphording mentored EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt, who set NCAA single-game records in 2008 with 76 pass attempts without an interception vs. Temple and 58 pass completions in a 56-52 win over CMU.
Prior to his post at EMU, Isphording served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wittenberg from 1998-2003. He helped Wittenberg make five appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, win four North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships and compile a 63-9 win-loss record.
Prior to his Wittenberg coaching stint, Isphording was the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Colorado School of Mines (1996-98), and was the quarterbacks coach at Fort Hays State University (1994-96).
A four-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Hanover College, Isphording helped the offense rank third in the NCAA Division III ranks in 1992. During that ‘92 season, Isphording recorded 3,098 yards in passing offense, which was the sixth-best effort in Division III history.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Isphording earned his bachelor’s degree at Hanover (IN) College in 1994. He earned a master’s degree in physical education at Fort Hays State in 1996. Isphording and his wife Shelly have a daughter, Erika, and a son, Gunnar.
