Chaz Scales joined the Tusculum coaching staff in the spring of 2017 and serves as the Pioneers’ cornerbacks coach and is also the pass game coordinator. 

Scales, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a wealth of coaching experience within the NCAA Division II Super Region 2.

In his first Tusculum campaign in 2017, he mentored All-South Atlantic Conference and All-Region cornerback Martez Thompkins, who finished second in the league with 13 passes defended (34th in NCAA II).  The Tusculum defense led the conference in fumbles recovered (13 - 11th in NCAA II), turnover margin (+9 - 21st in NCAA II) and turnovers gained (25 - 25th in NCAA II).  TC also led the SAC pass defense (170.1 yards per game allowed - 24th in NCAA II).  During the 2017 season he also served as TU's equipment coordinator.

Scales made his coaching debut in 2014 as a graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia.  He helped the Wolves to a stellar 12-3 overall mark as West Georgia advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinal.  The Wolves knocked off Tuskegee University, Delta State University and Valdosta State University before succumbing to Colorado State University at Pueblo in the Final Four.

That West Georgia squad also finished tied for third in the Gulf South Conference and finished the year ranked sixth in the nation in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll.

Scales mentored safety Carlos Hutton, who was tabbed as a USA College Football All-American. Hutton topped the Gulf South with 13 passes defended and placed second in the league with four interceptions.

Two of his players in cornerback Laronji Vason and Hutton were also honored with All-Conference recognition. Vason notched 72 stops, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries while under the tutelage of Scales.

Scales went onto serve as graduate assistant coach at Valdosta State University in 2015. As the Blazers accounted for nine victories and a NCAA II Playoff berth while working with the VSU defensive backs and special teams.

Valdosta State concluded the 2015 campaign ranked No. 14 in the AFCA poll and in a stalemate for third in the GSC. The Blazers defeated Carson-Newman University in the opening round of the playoffs before falling at West Georgia one week later. 

Athletes that thrived under Scales’ watch included USA College Football All-American and All-GSC selection Kenny Moore. Moore had three interceptions with two of them resulting in touchdown returns.

In 2016, he served as the running back coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College where he was reunited with the Tigers offensive coordinator Ryan Trevathan, who served on the coaching staff during Scales playing days at NCAA FBS Arkansas State University (2009-2012)

Scales was a part of back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships during his junior and senior campaigns.  The Red Wolves also earned consecutive berths to play in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Scales excelled in the defensive secondary throughout his career at Arkansas State as he led the team with seven pass break-ups each in his final two seasons.  He placed ninth on the squad with 45 total tackles, including 31 unassisted stops, in his final year at Arkansas State. He also had interceptions in games at the University of Oregon and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

He had a season-high eight takedowns in a home victory over the University of Memphis. Scales completed his time with the Red Wolves with a pair of tackles in their GoDaddy.com Bowl win versus nationally ranked Kent State University.

Scales was also solid during his junior campaign at Arkansas State with 33 stops, including three of them for loss, with 11 pass break ups and one interception in 13 total outings.

He set a career-best mark for tackles in a single game that year with 10 in a triumph by the Red Wolves against the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He also picked off a pass in the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl versus Northern Illinois University.

Scales assisted Arkansas State in compiling winning streaks of nine games in 2011 and seven in a row to end the season during his final year on the Jonesboro, Arkansas campus.

He participated in all 12 games for the Red Wolves as a true freshman in 2009. Scales recorded 10 tackles mainly on special teams, but also saw action at cornerback.

Scales earned the starting nod for the first time as a sophomore. He accumulated 17 total takedowns that season including a season-high six tackles in a matchup with Troy University.

He was a standout player at Centennial High School in Nashville where he was selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Class 5A All-State team following a senior season in which he accounted for 2,400 yards and 29 touchdowns as the quarterback for the Cougars.