Former defensive line coach Scottie Hazelton has been promoted to defensive coordinator. He will move from defensive line to linebackers coach. Head football coach Craig Bohl made the announcement Jan. 26.

Hazelton has been the defensive line coach since 2007. He was a former graduate assistant for the Bison in 2000 and 2001. Hazelton worked closely with Casey “Gus” Bradley, who is currently defensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks and former NDSU assistant coach when he began his career.

Hazelton has been a part of several impressive defensive coaching staffs since coming back to Fargo. In 2008, NDSU led the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in pass defense and ranked third in sacks, fifth in total defense and tackles for loss, and 19th in scoring defense.

In the 2007 Football Championship Subdivision statistics, the Bison were ranked 18th in defensive third down efficiency and 22nd in rushing defense.

Hazelton was the linebackers coach at Michigan Technological University in 2006 after spending two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator at Missouri Southern State University. He also was the defensive backs coach for two seasons at St. Olaf College in Minnesota

He played collegiate football at Fort Lewis College in Colorado and began his coaching career there in 1996 working with the defensive secondary and serving as interim defensive coordinator.

Scott and his wife, Brooke, have two daughters, Ava and Sophie. The couple is expecting their first boy in June.