In 1991, Scott helped form the Bond, Schoeneck & King Collegiate Sports Law Practice. Through 1999, Scott represented institutions including Syracuse University, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, University of Florida, Florida State University, Texas Tech University, University of Washington, University of California, Berkeley, Oklahoma State University, University of Minnesota, University of Maryland, University of Maine, University of New Orleans, and several others.

In 1999, Scott began representing coaches, student-athletes and other individuals in NCAA infractions cases, misconduct investigations, and related litigation. Here are some of the highlights of Scott’s work.

Chalmers et al. v NCAA – Scott is part of the legal team that filed this class action antitrust case in July 2024 against the NCAA on behalf of former NCAA student-athletes whose names, images, and likenesses continue to be used for commercial purposes by the NCAA without consent or compensation.

Bill Self – When Hall of Fame coach and national champion Bill Self needed legal counsel in connection with the NCAA’s investigation of the University of Kansas men’s basketball program, he asked Scott to represent him. Coach Self is the third Hall of Fame coach to retain Scott when faced with serious allegations and his reputation is on the line.

In September 2019, the NCAA enforcement staff charged Coach Self with five (5) Level I violations. Under the NCAA Division I penalty matrix, the allegations could have resulted in a lifetime show cause order with a restriction from all coaching duties. One major national news outlet published a column titled, “NCAA’s message to Bill Self: You’re a cheater and we want you out of college basketball.” The columnist wrote, “Now, it’s up to Self to prove that he doesn’t deserve the massive and perhaps career-ending punishment that the NCAA could throw his way.” Other pundits and commentators also predicted dire consequences for Coach Self.

Scott’s legal strategy and work, together with his co-counsel Bill Sullivan, resulted in Coach Self agreeing to one (1) Level III violation, a self-imposed four-game suspension at the start of the 2022-23 season and recruiting restrictions. Following a three-day hearing in April 2023, the NCAA’s Independent Resolution Panel (IRP) accepted and agreed with a finding of one (1) Level III violation for Coach Self, and the panel did not impose any additional penalties on Self.

Following the release of the IRP’s decision, one national sports media outlet wrote:

“It’s a near-unprecedented turn of events for a head coach at a power-conference school. The previous five Level I allegations attached to Self and his program were the most severe of any men’s basketball program in the IRP’s crosshairs. Included was a lack of institutional control and a head-coach responsibility charge, both of which were dropped. No additional penalties were levied against Self.”

While Scott was guiding Coach Self through this serious and complex case, Self continued to coach and lead his team at the highest level. The Jayhawks won the Big XII Conference regular season championship three of four years and won the national championship in 2022. The Jayhawks began the 2023-24 season as the #1 ranked team in the nation. And on November 7, 2023, KU made Self the highest paid college men’s basketball coach in the country with a five-year $53 million dollar contract.

Josh Pastner – Scott represented former University of Memphis and Georgia Tech head basketball coach Josh Pastner in an unprecedented nationally covered case in which a man and woman attempted to extort Coach Pastner by falsely accusing him of NCAA violations and sexual assault.

Scott represented Coach Pastner over four years through a major NCAA infractions investigation, a Title IX investigation, a civil defamation lawsuit, and two criminal cases in which Coach Pastner was the victim. Scott’s legal strategy and work resulted in: (1) the NCAA clearing Coach Pastner of all NCAA violations; (2) a complete exoneration of Coach Pastner in the Title IX investigation; (3) discovery of exculpatory evidence in the civil defamation lawsuit which proved the couple’s allegations were falsely and maliciously concocted; and (4) presentation of evidence to law enforcement authorities which resulted in law enforcement charging the man and woman with federal crimes ending in convictions and prison time for both defendants.

One of the keys to the case was Scott’s strategy to flip a fake witness who had agreed to lie for the extortionists in exchange for a share of the settlement proceeds the extortionists wrongly thought Coach Pastner would pay.

The final result was complete and total exoneration for Coach Pastner, and federal convictions for the extortionists. Pastner credits Scott with saving his job, career, and reputation.

Todd McNair – Scott is the only attorney to represent a coach in a major NCAA infractions case and then successfully take the NCAA to court for wrongfully penalizing the coach. Scott represented USC assistant football coach Todd McNair in the high-profile nationally covered USC football infractions case involving the NCAA’s investigation of Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush for accepting impermissible benefits from agents while he was still enrolled at USC.

After the NCAA unfairly and wrongly ruled that Coach McNair was complicit in the violations and ended his career, Scott teamed with renowned trial attorney Bruce Broillet to get justice for Coach McNair.

In a hotly contested lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court in which the NCAA was represented by one of the best trial law firms in the country with virtually unlimited resources, Scott and Bruce exposed the malicious misconduct of the NCAA in multiple court rulings resulting in a favorable settlement for McNair. Coach McNair rejuvenated his coaching career and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jim Calhoun – Scott represented Hall of Fame coach and national champion Jim Calhoun in the NCAA’s investigation of UConn’s recruitment of Nate Miles. Scott’s work resulted in limiting the penalty on Coach Calhoun to a three-game suspension. Within two months after the case was concluded Coach Calhoun won his third national championship.

Rick Pitino – Scott represented Hall of Fame coach and national champion Rick Pitino in the high-profile case in which a University of Louisville graduate assistant coach invited women into the men’s basketball dorm to entertain student-athletes and prospects without Coach Pitino’s knowledge or approval.

Regarding Scott’s work, Coach Pitino wrote in his book, Pitino: My Story:

“In the end, Scott put together a sixty-eight-page response to the single charge against me. I think it is a document of concision, logic, and accuracy. Part of me wants to publish it as stand-alone book.”

Art Briles – Scott successfully represented Baylor University head football coach Art Briles when the NCAA enforcement staff charged Coach Briles with seven Level I violations of head coach control legislation. Following the longest infractions case in NCAA history from the Notice of Allegations to the public decision, the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions agreed with Scott’s legal arguments and cleared Coach Briles of all NCAA violations.

Greg McDermott – Scott represented Creighton University men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott when Coach McDermott’s assistant coach was found to have committed Level I violations in connection with the high-profile S.D.N.Y criminal investigation and prosecution of Adidas representatives and other individuals. Despite the legislative presumption of responsibility of head coaches for the violations of assistant coaches, Scott’s work resulted in the NCAA clearing Coach McDermott of any violations. McDermott recently received a long-term contract extension and coached his team to the 2023 Elite Eight.

Rich Rodriguez – Scott represented University of Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez in a high-profile case in which the NCAA enforcement staff charged Coach Rodriguez with major violations of the NCAA’s playing and practice season legislation. Scott’s work resulted in Coach Rodriguez having only to attend a rules education seminar.

Ed Sprague – Scott represented two-time World Series champion and University of Pacific head baseball coach Ed Sprague when the NCAA enforcement staff charged Coach Sprague with major violations of the NCAA’s unethical conduct and head coach control legislation. Scott took the case to hearing and beat both charges.

Silvio De Sousa – The University of Kansas retained Scott to represent men’s basketball student-athlete Silvio De Sousa in an amateurism investigation and eligibility reinstatement case in which Scott successfully appealed the NCAA’s career-ending two-year suspension against De Sousa. Because of Scott’s work, De Sousa was able to earn his bachelor’s degree and complete his NCAA eligibility. A documentary film about the case will be released soon.

Ryan Boatright – When the NCAA investigated UConn’s freshman point guard Ryan Boatright for alleged amateurism violations involving his mother’s acceptance of benefits from her friend, UConn retained Scott to represent Ryan and his mother Tanesha. Scott’s work resulted in the NCAA stopping their investigation and fully reinstating Ryan’s eligibility. He went on to lead the Huskies to a national championship in 2014. Scott’s work inspired NY Times columnist Joe Nocera to write his groundbreaking book, “Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA.”

Braxton Beverly – Scott took on Braxton Beverly’s NCAA eligibility case after the NCAA ruled that Beverly had to sit out a year after he decommitted from Ohio State and transferred to NC State after Ohio State terminated head coach Thad Matta. Scott’s work resulted in a reversal of the unfair decision, and Beverly was ruled immediately eligible at NC State. Beverly became an integral part of the team his freshman year starting 26 of 31 games and averaging 9.5 points and 3.9 assists per game.

Other Cases – Scott has represented dozens of other coaches and individuals in NCAA infractions and misconduct cases often resulting in his clients receiving either no penalties or light penalties. His experience and expertise in NCAA cases and related litigation is unparalleled.