Hal Mumme has been named head coach of the University of Kentucky footballteam, UK director of athletics C.M. Newton announced today. The appointmentbecame official following a vote of the Board of Directors of the Universityof Kentucky Athletics Association.
“I think Hal is uniquely qualified for this job.” Newton said. “He’s reallyprepared himself to coach at UK and in the Southeastern Conference. He’scoached at every level-assistant coach and head coach in high school,offensive coordinator in Division I-A, and head coach on two levels incollege. His playing style is exciting and will be fun to watch.
“Along with that, Hal brings the same values and commitment to the conceptof the student-athlete, compliance, and academic success that JerryClaiborne and Bill Curry held.”
Mumme comes to UK from Valdosta (Ga.) State University, where he was headcoach from 1992-96. He guided the Blazers to five consecutive winningseasons and compiled a record of 40-17-1. He took the Blazers to the NCAADivision II playoffs in 1994 and 1996. VSU completed its current seasonSaturday in the quarterfinals (final eight) of the Division II playoffs.
Mumme’s teams achieved numerous milestones during his years at VSU. Fiveconsecutive winning seasons is the longest streak in school history. TheBlazers have been ranked in the national top 20 consistently, including aNo. 1 ranking at one point in the 1996 season. VSU finished second or higherin the Gulf South Conference in four of the five seasons, including theschool’s first conference championship this year. The ’94 and ’96 playoffappearances are the only ones in school history. Twenty-six Blazers havebeen names first-team all-conference under Mumme.
In 1992, Mumme’s first squad at Valdosta State went 5-4-1. The 1993 seasonsaw the Blazers go 8-3, the second-highest single-season win total in schoolhistory. In that season, VSU broke 66 school records, 22 conference records,and seven national marks.
The 1994 season was a breakthrough campaign for Mumme. His team set a schoolrecord for wins with an 11-2 mark. The Blazers’ first national playoff entrybegan with a victory over Albany State before losing in the quarterfinals inovertime. 27-24′ to eventual champion North Alabama. Along the way, VSUbroke 80 school records, 35 conference records, and 16 national standards.Quarterback Chris Hatcher was the Gulf South Conference Player of the Yearand won the Harlon Hill Award as the Player of the Year in Division II.Mumme was chosen Georgia Coach of the Year by the Georgia Sports Hall ofFame.
Despite the loss of 20 starters, and a schedule that included four top 20teams away from home and a Div. I-A team on the road, Mumme was able to puttogether a 6-5 record in 1995. The Blazers returned to national prominencethis season with a 10-3 record, including a playoff victory. Valdosta Statewon its first conference championship and Mumme was named Conference Coachof the Year.
Throwing the football has been Mumme’s trademark. From 1991-94, Hatchercompleted 1,047 of 1,529 passes (68.5 percent) for 11,363 yards and 121touchdowns. Hatcher continues to hold several national records for passingand total offense.
Current Vsu quarterback Lance Funderburk threw for 3,706 yards and 26touchdowns in 1995. This season, he passed for 4,226 yards and 38 TDs.Considered a national Football League prospect, Funderburk already hasaccepted an invitation to the east-West Shrine Game- only the fourthDivision II player ever to be selected for that game.
The running game also got its share of attention under Mumme. From 1992-94,running back Dominique Ross rushed for 3,237 yards and 36 touchdowns. Thisyear, Vontrell Mitchell rushed for 1.355 yards.
During his tenure at VSU, Mumme’s defenses were known as daring, aggressiveunits. Mumme’s 1994 team allowed a school-record low of 162 points, despiteplaying more games than any season in school history. Andre Hampton set aschool career record with 36 quarterback sacks. Antonio Edwards notched 34sacks as a Blazer and was named Gulf south Conference Player of the Year in1992.
Edwards, who has gone on to become a starting defensive end for the SeattleSeahawks, is an indication of Mumme’s success in player development atValdosta. Ross has been a member of the Dallas Cowboys’ developmental squad,and wide receiver Robert Williams has been a member of the Kansas CityChief’s developmental squad. Seven players from Mumme’s1994 team signedcontracts with National Football League or Canadian Football League teams.
Mumme arrived at Valdosta from Iowa Wesleyan College, where he orchestrateda complete turnaround in the NAIA school’s football fortunes from 1989-91.Mumme inherited only three returning players from the ’88 group that hadposted an 0-10 record. The immediate reversal began with a 7-4 record in1989 and got better each season. In 1990, Iowa Wesleyan improved to 8-4,followed by a 10-2 mark in 1991. The 1991 team made the first nationalplayoff appearance in school history.
With the help of star quarterback Dustin Dewald, Mumme’s 1990 team led theNAIA in passing offense and the 1989 and 1991 teams finished secondnationally in passing. Dewald and Valdosta’s Chris Hatcher are two of onlyseven quarterbacks in collegiate history who have thrown more than 100touchdown passes in their careers.
All totaled, Mumme’s Iowa Wesleyan teams posted a 25-10 record. Mumme comesto Kentucky with a career mark of 65-27-1 in eight seasons as a collegiatehead coach. Born March 29, 1952, in San Antonio, Texas, Hal Clay Mummegraduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas. He was a widereceiver at Tarleton State, a Division II school in Stephenville, Texas. Hegraduated from Tarleton in 1975 with a degree in history. Mumme’s debut as acoach came at Moody high School in Corpus Christi, Texas, from 1976-1978. Hewas head coach at Aransas Pass (Texas) HS in 1979.
Mumme entered the collegiate ranks as the quarterbacks and receivers coachat West Texas state in 1980-81. He was the offensive coordinator at Texas-ElPaso from 1982-1985. While at UTEP, he developed a relationship with BrighamYoung head coach LaVell Edwards, who had a profound impact on Mumme’soffensive philosophy.
After leaving UTEP, Mumme became head coach at Copperas Cove (Texas) HS. Hecoached at Copperas Cove from 1986-88 before moving to Mt. Pleasant, Iowafor the head coaching position at Iowa Wesleyan.
Mumme is married to the former June Leischman and they have three children.Matt, 21, was a reserve quarterback this season at Valdosta State. Karen, 18is a sophomore at VSU and daughter Leslie is 13.
What They’Re Saying About Hal Mumme
Grant Teaff
Director of the American Football Coaches Association
“Looking across the nation at young coaches who have a chance to beeverything a university would want, one of the top names is Hal Mumme. He’sproven himself as a head coach on three levels. He has an excellentoffensive mind and has the charisma and personality to recruit. He also hasthe experience to put together a good staff at Kentucky.”
LaVell Edwards
Head Coach at Brigham Young
“Kentucky has made a great move. Hal has a very good understanding og thegame and a great ability to work with people and teach the game. He’s beensuccessful everywhere he’s been a head coach. I believe the ability to dothat is the same at all levels. He’s and excellent football coach who isgoing to have a great career.”
Roy Kramer
Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference
“Hal Mumme has proven himself as a bright coach who is extremely innovative.He is player-oriented and has brought a great deal of excitement andenthusiasm to every school he’s coached. I’m sure he’ll bring a great dealof enthusiasm to Kentucky.”
Chris Hatcher
1994 Harlon Hill Award Winner, Currently Assistant Coach at Central Florida
“He’s a great coach. He’s a leader on the field and off the field as well.He taught me a lot about football and also taught me a lot about how tolive. It’s a lot of fun playing under him. Practice is very structures andvery organized. He gives you a lot of freedom as a quarterback.”
Jeff Van Note
Former Kentucky Player and current UK Radio Network Analyst
“Hal is a bright, young, energetic, and enthusiastic coach. He iswell-versed in the wide-open offense of the ’90s. He’s been successfuleverywhere he’s coached. He has been able to recruit players and he’s alsodeveloped players. He’s a real favorite of the Georgia high school coaches.”
Tony Franklin
Head Coach at Mercer County High School
“I’ve known Hal about eight years, since (former UK quarterback) PookieJones was a senior at Calloway County. I think he’s a perfect hire forKentucky. UK needs somebody unique with something different to offer. Idon’t think they could have found anybody in the country better suited thanHal.”
