Current assistant Tony Franklin named offensive coordinator.
Dec. 20, 1999
LEXINGTON, Kty. — University of Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme has announced the hiring of assistant coach Dan Lounsbury and graduate assistant coach John Schlarman, along with naming current assistant coach Tony Franklin as the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator.
Lounsbury will coach the UK tight ends and also help organize the Wildcats’ special teams. He takes the spot on the staff that was held by Chris Hatcher, who left UK to become head coach at Valdosta State University.
“Dan is one of the guys in this profession that I’ve admired for a long time,” Mumme said. “When Coach (Mike) Major and I were putting this offense together in 1986 (Mumme’s first season as head coach at Copperas Cove High School), we sought out Dan. He was at the University of Texas and had great success throwing the football at small colleges. Dan was very open and took a lot of time with us. He is a great teacher and communicator.
“When we came here I wanted to hire Dan, but he was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Houston. When Chris left, Dan was available and it worked out. He has coached at a lot of different levels of football. It helps to have guys who have paid their dues, so when they get to a place as great as Kentucky they appreciate it more.”
A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Lounsbury has coached for a number of teams at the small college, major college, and professional levels. His coaching tour has taken him to these stops: Sam Houston State, quarterbacks/wide receivers, 1976-77; Howard Payne University, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers, 1978; East Texas State, quarterbacks/wide receivers, 1979; Southeastern Oklahoma State, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers from 1980-82; head coach from 1983-85; University of Texas, tight ends/tackles, 1986; Purdue, running backs/wide receivers, 1987-90; New York – New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football, wide receivers/special teams, 1991; Wisconsin-Superior, head coach 1991-92; Toronto of the Canadian Football League, quarterbacks/wide receivers, 1993; University of Houston, quarterbacks 1994-96; assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator/quarterbacks, 1997-98; and Shreveport of the Regional Football League, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, spring 1999.
Lounsbury has helped develop a number of outstanding players. At East Texas State, he coached future National Football League quarterback Wade Wilson. While at Purdue, his pupils included Calvin Williams, who went on to play with the Philadelphia Eagles. His 1996 Houston team won the Conference USA championship and quarterback Chuck Clements was named the league’s player of the year. Following Clements’ departure, Lounsbury gave the quarterback job to freshman Jason McKinley, who earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors.
“I wanted to come here because of Hal Mumme,” Lounsbury said of his decision to join the UK staff. “He’s a good coach and he has a good program here. I just want to contribute and do what I can to help it get better.”
Lounsbury recalled when their friendship began taking root in 1986, saying that they spent a lot of time talking about and working on pass protection. His reward? “Hal took me out and bought a hamburger,” Lounsbury remembers, laughing.
Now, when Mumme wants to discuss pass protection, he can also call upon his new graduate assistant coach – former All-SEC offensive guard John Schlarman. Schlarman will help Guy Morriss coach the offensive line. Schlarman takes the graduate assistant post vacated by Sonny Dykes, who got a full-time assistant coaching job at Texas Tech.
“Coach Morriss wanted help with the offensive line and John is a natural for the position,” Mumme said. “He’s already acquired two good years of coaching experience with Dudley Hilton at Bourbon County. John brings a lot of enthusiasm to the job and we think he’ll be a great asset.”
Schlarman coached the defensive line at Bourbon County in 1998 and 1999, helping guide the team to the state playoffs both seasons. Schlarman was a four-year starter in the Kentucky offensive line from 1994-97. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC team in 1994 and was chosen the team’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 1995 and ’96. As a senior in 1997, he played for Mumme and Morriss, earning first-team All-SEC accolades.
Also an outstanding student, Schlarman was a three-year member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was a finalist for Academic All-America in 1997 after earning a place on the GTE Academic All-District IV team. Prior to UK, he was an all-state offensive lineman at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky.
“I was very excited when Coach Mumme asked if I wanted to be a graduate assistant. I think I’ll really enjoy working with the linemen,” Schlarman said. “I want to be in college coaching, and working with Coach Mumme and the staff is a great opportunity.”
In addition to the two hirings, Mumme has announced that current assistant coach Tony Franklin has been given the position of offensive coordinator. Franklin will take additional responsibility in helping Mumme organize the UK “Air Raid” offense.
“Tony has become a proven college coach during his three years on our staff,” Mumme said. “He’s flourished in every task I’ve given him and is well-qualified to do the same things that Mike Leach did for us. He’ll be a great help in helping run the offense.”
Franklin has coached the running backs in his three seasons at UK. During his term, Anthony White and Derek Homer each moved into the top 12 on the UK career rushing list. In 1997-98, White and Homer accumulated 4,019 rushing and receiving yards, more than any other duo of running backs in the Southeastern Conference. White is third on the SEC career receptions list with 194 catches. White became one of three players in NCAA Division I-A history to surpass 1,500 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards. Last week, recruiting analyst Tom Culpepper chose Franklin as one of the top 10 recruiters among assistant coaches in the South.
“I’m honored and excited,” Franklin said of his new position. “There’s no place I’d rather be offensive coordinator than the University of Kentucky and I’m looking forward to it. I hope to continue to add the things to our offense that Coach (Mike) Leach added.” Leach was UK’s offensive coordinator in 1997-98 and is now head coach at Texas Tech.
