ITG-CV / September 2016
College football is off and running! Fans have marked their calendars and will be out in force this fall to cheer on their favorite teams. The Columbus Valley area is fortunate to be in a centralized location close to several collegiate teams. One newer program in this part of Georgia is that of the NCAA Division III LaGrange College Panthers.
Head coach Matt Mumme is now in his third season at LaGrange. The former high school and college football athlete literally grew up around the sport as the son of a coach. While his 2015 season with the Panthers was disappointing, 2-7, Mumme is excited about the future of his program at LaGrange.
It’s no coincidence that approximately 80 percent of the Panthers’ team members hail from Georgia. Mumme says his program purposefully recruits within a 180-mile radius of the school, mainly because of the talent that comes from the area.
In The Game asked Panthers’ coach Matt Mumme 10 Questions about himself, his program, and his goals for this season.
In The Game: How long have you been at LaGrange College?
Matt Mumme: I am going into my fourth season at LaGrange College.
ITG: What are your title and responsibilities?
MM: I am the head football coach, and my responsibilities are to oversee the entire football program; fundraise for the program; ensure student-athlete success from year to year, meaning grow guys up and see them graduate; do work in our wonderful community of LaGrange; oversee recruiting for the program; establish summer camps to gain more exposure for our great school; and try to help our young men grow on and off the field to become role models in the community.
ITG: Give us a brief background sketch of your high school and college experience.
MM: I played high school football at Valdosta High School for one of the most winningest coaches in the nation, Nick Hyder. We won a state and national championship in 1992. From there I went on to play quarterback for my father at Valdosta State University and then transferred to the University of Kentucky. At Kentucky, we went 7-4 in my senior season and earned a bid to the first New Year’s Day Bowl in school history (Outback Bowl) where we played Penn State. In the 1998 season, I threw two of the longest touchdown passes in school history.
ITG: Your father, Hal Mumme, is a well-known coach. You have played for and coached with him. Has it been difficult to establish your own career when so many associate your last name with your dad?
MM: I am extremely proud of my dad and loved playing and coaching for him! He is an innovator and changed the game of football in many ways. Author Sam Gwynne has written a book that will be released in late August call the Perfect Pass. Of course, when everyone hears my last name, they automatically talk about my dad, and I love it. On a different level, it’s probably like George Bush, Sr., and George Bush. In a lot of ways, it has helped me get to where I’m at now, and LaGrange College along with LG President George McAlexander has given me an opportunity to blaze my own path. We are Texas natives, and I’m extremely proud of my family.
ITG: Where did you coach prior to coming to LaGrange?
MM: It’s important that I preface this by saying how blessed I am to have an amazing wife in Fayedra. She is the one that has supported me in chasing this dream of being a college football coach. Before arriving in LaGrange, I was the Offensive Coordinator for Davidson College (NC). Previous to this, I was with my dad for three stints as Offensive Coordinator at McMurray, New Mexico State University, and Southeastern Louisiana University.
ITG: LaGrange College began the football program in 2006. How has the program grown since that time?
MM: The biggest change is the number of players we are getting and the success that we are having growing them up. I’m proud to say that our retention is consistent and our overall team GPA is the highest it’s ever been.
ITG: What is the average day like for you during football season?
MM: Football season is what we live for! So in-season, our days are complicated to say the least. For me, a typical day starts at 7 a.m. where I get in the office and take care of phone calls and emails for an hour. Then we have a staff meeting at 8 a.m. to get organized for the day. 9 to 12 is used for game planning and putting together practice scripts. After lunch – Oh, yes, my staff, we do not miss meals – we put together Special Teams plans and prepare for our meetings with players at 3:30. Players’ meetings go about an hour, then we take the field at 4:30. A typical practice for us will run two hours. After that are dinner and our players’ study hall, and for me, it depends on the day. Early in the week, I’m doing radio shows and other media stuff to discuss that week’s game. As we get closer to game time, I spend my evenings at home with my amazing wife Fayedra. Saturdays is what it is all about. Game Time!
ITG: What is your average day like after football season?
MM: After football season, the recruiting game heats up. So we spend some time out on the road finding prospects. I ensure that our offseason is put in place and spend a lot of time coordinating community service events for us to participate in. I am often called upon to make speaking engagements in the offseason. This year I spoke at a clinic in New Jersey and a few events around LaGrange. The one I’m most proud of this year is my staff and I were the first college football coaches to fly to Panama City, Panama, where we did a clinic and camp for the high school kids down there. It was a wonderful trip and a great opportunity to see and meet people from a different culture.
ITG: What are your goals this season for your team?
MM: Goals for 2016 are to have a winning season, finish with one of the top offenses and defenses in the nation, and have fun!
ITG: What is the best part of being the head football coach for the LaGrange College Panthers?
MM: The best thing about being head coach, without a doubt, is my players! They are an amazing group of young men that come from a variety of backgrounds and strive to be successful in the classroom and on the football field. Great players make great coaches!
ITG Web Content
10 Questions with Matt Mumme, Head Football Coach, LaGrange College
By Beth Welch
