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Kentucky football: Worst head coach hires in program history

By Josh Yourish

Nov 12, 2011; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips directs his team against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Commodores beat the Wildcats 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2011; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips directs his team against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Commodores beat the Wildcats 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports /
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ARLINGTON, TX – FEBRUARY 09: Offensive Coordinator Hal Mumme of the Dallas Renegades looks on during the XFL game against the St. Louis BattleHawks at Globe Life Park on February 9, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Andrew Hancock/XFL via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – FEBRUARY 09: Offensive Coordinator Hal Mumme of the Dallas Renegades looks on during the XFL game against the St. Louis BattleHawks at Globe Life Park on February 9, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Andrew Hancock/XFL via Getty Images) /

Hal Mumme didn’t have the worst record as the head coach of the Kentucky football program. He finished his four-year tenure from 1997-2000 with a record of 20-26, but he did cripple the program in the process.

He had a great offense led by Tim Couch and in 1997 his team beat Alabama for the first time since 1922. However, reports of recruiting violations began to surface and in 2000 his team went 2-9. It was his final season in Lexington because he was forced to resign amidst the allegations.

Kentucky was punished for over three dozen recruiting violations. The punishment included a ban from postseason play in 2002 and the loss of 19 scholarships over the next three years.

His recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett was primarily responsible, but Mumme still managed to wreck any chance of Kentucky competing in the SEC.

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