Chris Scelfo

Biography

Chris Scelfo returns for his second season as Tight Ends Coach with the Falcons and his second season in the NFL. The 22-year coaching veteran came to Atlanta after spending eight seasons as one of the most successful head coaches at Tulane University.

Scelfo led the Falcons tight end unit to a highly productive season in both the passing game and the ground attack. His tight ends, led by Justin Peelle and Ben Hartsock, blocked for the NFL’s number two ranked running game (2,443 yards) and the League’s second ranked rusher (RB Michael Turner, 1,699 yards) in 2008. The Falcons 2,443 rushing yards ranked fifth in franchise history and Turner’s 17 touchdowns on the ground marked a new single-season franchise mark with the help of Scelfo’s tight ends. While Hartsock spearheaded the blocking in the running game, Peelle was the catalyst for the passing game with the guidance of Scelfo. Peelle hauled in 15 receptions for 159 yards with two scores in his first season with the Falcons.

In 2006, Scelfo became Tulane’s career leader for games coached with 94 and ranks second among coaches in victories with 37. He is the only Green Wave Head Coach in the school’s history with two bowl victories after guiding the university to wins in the 1998 Liberty Bowl and the 2002 Hawaii Bowl. Less than a month after he was hired to lead Tulane (1998), the Green Wave’s victory over BYU in the Liberty Bowl capped a perfect 12-0 campaign.

During his tenure at Tulane, Scelfo sent nine players to the NFL, including first round draft picks quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey (2002) and J.P. Losman (2004). His teams performed well in the classroom too, as the Head Coach logged an average graduation rate of 75 percent (2003-06) and nearly 80 percent of his student-athletes earned degrees in 2001.

In Scelfo’s two previous coaching stops at the University of Georgia (1996-98) and Marshall (1990-95), his teams advanced to postseason in seven of nine seasons while registering eight winning records.

At Georgia, Scelfo served as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach while the  Bulldogs recorded a 23-11 mark with appearances in the Outback Bowl (1997) and Peach Bowl (1998). He coached three offensive linemen who were first or second round NFL draft picks, including first-round selection Matt Stinchcomb and second-rounders Adam Meadows and Chris Terry.

During Scelfo’s time at Marshall, the Thundering Herd reached the I-AA national semifinals five times, the national finals four times and won the 1992 national championship. He coached the Offensive Line from 1990-92 and was promoted to Offensive Coordinator from 1993-95, as well as maintaining his offensive line duties. As Offensive Coordinator, Marshall led the Southern Conference in scoring all three years while grabbing the top spot in total offensive for two seasons.

Scelfo began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at his alma mater, now the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The Indians won the I-AA national title in 1987, which came on the heels of his playing career at the school then known as Northeast Louisiana. From 1988-98, Scelfo was a Graduate Assistant at Oklahoma.

At Northeast Louisiana, Scelfo was a three-year letterman at center who served as a captain his senior season.

Scelfo and his wife, Nancy, have one daughter, Sarah Beth, and one son, Joseph. He is the co-author of Fourth And New Orleans, the story of the Tulane Green Wave during and after Hurricane Katrina and is a also a member of the Italian-American Hall of Fame.

Chris Scelfo’s Coaching Background

• 2008-2009 -- Tight Ends Coach // Atlanta Falcons
• 1998-2006 -- Head Coach // Tulane University
• 1996-1998 -- Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach // University of Georgia
• 1993-1995 -- Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach // Marshall University
• 1990-1992 -- Offensive Line Coach // Marshall University
• 1988-1989 -- Graduate Assistant // University of Oklahoma
• 1986-1987 -- Graduate Assistant // Northeast Louisiana