By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Centenary’s year-old football program will have a lot more eyes on it around the country beginning this season, thanks to the hiring of 73-year-old offensive guru Hal Mumme announced Tuesday.
Mumme, whose 49-year coaching career includes four seasons as head coach at Kentucky among his seven head coaching posts at various levels of college football, has joined the Gents’ staff as offensive coordinator under coach Byron Dawson.
Mumme is regarded as one of the originators of the “Air Raid” spread passing attack, along with the late Mike Leach, a likely College Football Hall of Fame inductee for his own head coaching career who rose to national acclaim as Mumme’s offensive coordinator at NAIA program Iowa Wesleyan (1989-91), NCAA Division II power Valdosta State (1992-96) and Kentucky (1997; Leach was hired away by Oklahoma, while Mumme stayed as the Wildcats’ head coach until ousted in a recruiting scandal after the 2000 season, but was cleared of any personal involvement).
He has been head coach recently on the same NCAA Division III level as Centenary, at McMurray (Texas) from 2009-12 and at Belhaven (Miss.) from 2014-17. Almost exactly a year ago, Mumme was announced as an offensive analyst for Sullivan East High School in Bluff City, Tenn., where one of his former players was the offensive coordinator.
His last documented coaching post was as head coach in the professional The Spring League with “The Linemen” in 2021, ending with a 5-1 record.
As a college head coach, he is 142-152-1, highlighted by a 24-11 mark and two postseason appearances at Iowa Wesleyan, a 40-17-1 record and two NCAA Division II quarterfinal berths at Valdosta State, two bowl trips in his four years at Kentucky, and a 27-16 mark with two postseason appearances including a 2011 Division III second-round playoff berth at McMurry. He also was head coach when Southland Conference member Southeastern Louisiana restarted its program and went 12-11 in 2003-04.
His last head coaching job was unsuccessful at Belhaven, where the Blazers were 8-33 from 2014-17. His successor was current Northwestern State coach Blaine McCorkle, who turned around a program that had won no more than three games beginning in 2013 and went 24-7 in his final three seasons at the Jackson, Miss., school before he took over the Demons for the 2024 season
Mumme’s ups and downs as a head coach have not tarnished his longstanding reputation as an unconventional offensive innovator.
“Coach Mumme quickly stood out among a strong group of candidates, and I truly felt we connected on philosophy and vision for our offense,” said Dawson, whose background is on defense, in Centenary’s announcement.
“We’re thrilled to welcome one of the most iconic offensive minds in college football history to Kings Highway. With over 40 years of coaching experience, there’s simply no substitute for the wisdom and leadership he brings. He’ll be a game-changer as he guides our young Gents with the Air Raid offense,” Dawson said.
“I am excited for the opportunity to work with Coach Dawson and all of the great people at Centenary College,” said Mumme. “I look forward to starting practice soon with the Gents.”
“Hal Mumme has had an impressive career and he is even more impressive after meeting him in person. He is an excellent coach and I am thrilled he is joining the staff,” said Centenary athletics director David Orr.
Mumme survived a 2009 bout with prostate cancer. His son Matt is offensive coordinator at Colorado State.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com