Mumme Hiring Closer
‘Air Raid’ Guru Looks JMU Bound
Posted: January 30, 2013
HARRISONBURG — James Madison football coach Mickey Matthews said he wanted “to start all over again” on offense after firing offensive coordinator Jeff Durden in December.
It appears Matthews will do just that.
A source said Tuesday that former Kentucky coach and “Air Raid” offense innovator Hal Mumme is expected to be hired as JMU’s new offensive coordinator after the job ad on the university’s website expires Friday.
The coordinator job is one of several vacancies on JMU’s staff. Among the others: a quarterbacks coach, a tight ends coach and an offensive line coach.
Virginia Tech recently shook up its coaching staff, and former Hokies assistant Curt Newsome is expected to become Madison’s offensive line coach. He previously coached at JMU from 1999-05, gaining a reputation as an effective recruiter in Hampton Roads.
Former Virginia assistant Jeff Hanson is being considered for a defensive coaching job.
It is unclear who will coach tight ends and quarterbacks.
The 60-year-old Mumme would be a culture-changing hire for Madison, which has been a run-heavy team during Matthews’ 14-year reign. After a string of disappointing seasons that has left JMU’s administration restless, including a 7-4 record in 2012, Matthews has promised to build a pass-oriented attack around rising sophomore quarterback Michael Birdsong, a traditional drop-back passer.
Also a capable runner, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Birdsong is known for his strong arm. As a true freshman last year, he briefly usurped JMU’s starting quarterback job from the entrenched Justin Thorpe. That ended when Birdsong sprained his ankle at Maine in the third-to-last game of the season and missed the rest of the year.
Mumme most recently was the head coach at Division III McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, where he spent four seasons before resigning last week. The War Hawks went 27-16 under Mumme, including 8-3 in 2012. Mumme had three winning seasons at McMurry, which is transitioning to Division II. In addition to McMurry and Kentucky, Mumme has been the head coach at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Southeastern Louisiana and New Mexico State.
Mumme, did not return a voicemail Tuesday seeking comment but said in a recent interview with the News-Record that, “Of course, I would consider working for Mickey.”
Matthews and Mumme, both native Texans, are close friends and have known each other since they were assistant coaches together at West Texas State, now West Texas A&M, in Canyon, Texas.
At the time of the interview, Mumme was evasive when asked about his interest in JMU’s offensive coordinator position. He was believed to be the frontrunner for the job. Former Virginia Tech play-caller and quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain also was a candidate.
The Air Raid offense — run, notably, by West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen and Washington State coach Mike Leach, both Mumme acolytes — can produce big numbers on offense. McMurry averaged 346.4 passing yards, 415.8 total yards of offense and 33.6 points per game during Mumme’s four-year tenure. It passed about 65 percent of the time and ran an average of 73 plays per game.
During the same span, JMU averaged 145.6 passing yards, 343.1 total yards of offense and 22.7 points. The Dukes threw it about 30 percent of the time and averaged 64 plays per game.
It appears Matthews will do just that.
A source said Tuesday that former Kentucky coach and “Air Raid” offense innovator Hal Mumme is expected to be hired as JMU’s new offensive coordinator after the job ad on the university’s website expires Friday.
The coordinator job is one of several vacancies on JMU’s staff. Among the others: a quarterbacks coach, a tight ends coach and an offensive line coach.
Virginia Tech recently shook up its coaching staff, and former Hokies assistant Curt Newsome is expected to become Madison’s offensive line coach. He previously coached at JMU from 1999-05, gaining a reputation as an effective recruiter in Hampton Roads.
Former Virginia assistant Jeff Hanson is being considered for a defensive coaching job.
It is unclear who will coach tight ends and quarterbacks.
The 60-year-old Mumme would be a culture-changing hire for Madison, which has been a run-heavy team during Matthews’ 14-year reign. After a string of disappointing seasons that has left JMU’s administration restless, including a 7-4 record in 2012, Matthews has promised to build a pass-oriented attack around rising sophomore quarterback Michael Birdsong, a traditional drop-back passer.
Also a capable runner, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Birdsong is known for his strong arm. As a true freshman last year, he briefly usurped JMU’s starting quarterback job from the entrenched Justin Thorpe. That ended when Birdsong sprained his ankle at Maine in the third-to-last game of the season and missed the rest of the year.
Mumme most recently was the head coach at Division III McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, where he spent four seasons before resigning last week. The War Hawks went 27-16 under Mumme, including 8-3 in 2012. Mumme had three winning seasons at McMurry, which is transitioning to Division II. In addition to McMurry and Kentucky, Mumme has been the head coach at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Southeastern Louisiana and New Mexico State.
Mumme, did not return a voicemail Tuesday seeking comment but said in a recent interview with the News-Record that, “Of course, I would consider working for Mickey.”
Matthews and Mumme, both native Texans, are close friends and have known each other since they were assistant coaches together at West Texas State, now West Texas A&M, in Canyon, Texas.
At the time of the interview, Mumme was evasive when asked about his interest in JMU’s offensive coordinator position. He was believed to be the frontrunner for the job. Former Virginia Tech play-caller and quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain also was a candidate.
The Air Raid offense — run, notably, by West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen and Washington State coach Mike Leach, both Mumme acolytes — can produce big numbers on offense. McMurry averaged 346.4 passing yards, 415.8 total yards of offense and 33.6 points per game during Mumme’s four-year tenure. It passed about 65 percent of the time and ran an average of 73 plays per game.
During the same span, JMU averaged 145.6 passing yards, 343.1 total yards of offense and 22.7 points. The Dukes threw it about 30 percent of the time and averaged 64 plays per game.