Forensics community loses Scott Deatherage

Dr. L. Scott Deatherage, Executive Director of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, passed away Christmas morning.

Dr. Deatherage was proud of his start in debate in high school as a member of the NFL, and reportedly had his membership certificate still hanging in his office.

He joined the NAUDL in the spring of 2008. Previously, he was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University. He received a Ph.D. in Communication from Northwestern, an M.A. in Communication Studies from Baylor University, and a B.B.A. in Economics and Finance, also from Baylor.

As the Director of the Northwestern University Debate Society since 1994, Dr. Deatherage established an unparalleled record of coaching success. His Northwestern teams won the NDT National Championship seven times since 1994. He also coached four individuals to Top Speaker awards at the National Debate Tournament. In 2007 he received the George W. Ziegelmueller National Debate Tournament Coach of the Year Award, in 2003 he was named the Pelham National Coach of the Year, and he was voted the "Coach of the Decade" for the 1990s by his peers.