Hal Mumme will be calling plays again in 2025

Hal Mumme, former football coach at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State and Kentucky, shares memories of Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach during a memorial service in Humphrey Coliseum at MSU in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Coach Leach died on Dec. 12. © Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Hal Mumme just celebrated his 73rd birthday back in March but the former Kentucky head coach is not ready to retire his call sheet just yet. The Air Raid godfather will be returning to a football sideline in 2025.

Division III Centenary in Shreveport, La., has hired Mumme to be the program’s newest offensive coordinator under head coach Byron Dawson.

Offensive Guru Hal Mumme Joins Football Staff As Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach: https://t.co/Kkt3TMunEx #GoCentenary #CTheOpportunity pic.twitter.com/aKRRBPcoja
— Centenary Athletics (@GoCentenary) July 8, 2025

“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 in a release. “Now We Go!”

“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.”

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Hal Mumme brought the spread Air Raid offense to NAIA Iowa Wesleyan in 1989. From there, Mumme moved to Division II Valdosta State in 1992 where he won 40 games in five seasons with two playoff appearances. Kentucky athletic director C.M. Newton then made a massive out of the box hire by bringing Mumme to the SEC.

The head coach spent four seasons at Kentucky before resigning amid NCAA violations that included payments to recruits. However, he left a big mark on college football. Tim Couch became a Heisman Trophy finalist and No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft as UK became the first school to embrace the spread offensive passing game in a major conference. Base plays for that offense are now included in every offense in football. Mumme also helped start one of the best coaching trees in football history.

Mike Leach, Dana Holgorsen (Nebraska offensive coordinator), Sonny Dykes (TCU head coach), Tony Franklin (Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator), Guy Morriss, and Chris Hatcher (Samford head coach) all worked for Mumme at Kentucky. That tree added branches when Mike Leach went to Texas Tech that included Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders offensive coordinator), Lincoln Riley (USC head coach), Dave Aranda (Baylor head coach), and Art Briles.

Hal Mumme has made a massive impact on college football. That impact will continue in 2025.

Hal Mumme’s coaching history

School	Title	Years
Corpus Christi (Texas) Moody High	Offensive coordinator	1976-78
Aransas Pass (Texas) High	Head coach	1979
West Texas A&M (FCS)	QB/WR coach	1980-81
UTEP	Offensive coordinator	1982-85
Copperas Cove (Texas) High	Head coach	1986-88
Iowa Wesleyan (NAIA)	Head coach	1989-91
Valdosta State (Division II)	Head coach	1992-96
Kentucky	Head coach	1997-00
Southeastern Louisiana (FCS)	Head coach	2003-04
New Mexico State	Head coach	2005-08
McMurry (Division III)	Head coach	2009-12
SMU	Offensive coordinator	2013
Belhaven (Division III)	Head coach	2014-17
Jackson State (FCS)	Offensive coordinator	2018
Dallas Renegades (XFL)	Offensive coordinator	2020
Linemen (The Spring League)	Head Coach	2021
Centenary (Division III)	Offensive coordinator	2025