Mike Major
Encyclopedia
Mike Major is an American football
coach
.
Major was the defensive coordinator
at the University of Kentucky
from 1997 through 2000 under head coach Hal Mumme
. During Major's tenure the Wildcats played in the 1999 Outback Bowl
and the 1999 Music City Bowl
. Major resigned from Kentucky with one week remaining in the 2000 season; his defensive squads had allowed the most points in the Southeastern Conference
in each of his last two seasons at Kentucky.
The split was painful, as Major had been noted for his close personal and professional relationship with head coach Mumme. Mumme and Major first coached together in 1977 at Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus Christi, Texas
, as receiver
s and secondary
coaches, respectively; Major would go on to work with Mumme in coaching positions at a total of six high schools and colleges. Major served as Mumme's defensive coordinator at two different schools before working for Mumme in that role for five seasons at Valdosta State University
(1992–1996).
Following his departure from Kentucky, Major accepted a position as assistant coach at United High School
in Laredo, Texas
, in July 2001.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Major was the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
from 1997 through 2000 under head coach Hal Mumme
Hal Mumme
Hal Clay Mumme is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at McMurry University.- Playing career :...
. During Major's tenure the Wildcats played in the 1999 Outback Bowl
1999 Outback Bowl
The 1999 edition to the Outback Bowl featured the Kentucky Wildcats, and the Penn State Nittany Lions.Penn State entered the game with an 8-3 record and #22 ranking in the AP poll; the Nittany Lions had been ranked as high as #7 in the AP poll that season. Kentucky entered the game at 7-4,...
and the 1999 Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
. Major resigned from Kentucky with one week remaining in the 2000 season; his defensive squads had allowed the most points in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
in each of his last two seasons at Kentucky.
The split was painful, as Major had been noted for his close personal and professional relationship with head coach Mumme. Mumme and Major first coached together in 1977 at Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, as receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s and secondary
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
coaches, respectively; Major would go on to work with Mumme in coaching positions at a total of six high schools and colleges. Major served as Mumme's defensive coordinator at two different schools before working for Mumme in that role for five seasons at Valdosta State University
Valdosta State Blazers football
The Valdosta State football team represents Valdosta State University in football. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference in NCAA Division II, and are currently a top 10 team. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. The Blazers play in Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in...
(1992–1996).
Following his departure from Kentucky, Major accepted a position as assistant coach at United High School
United High School (Texas)
United High School is a public high school located in the northern portion of Laredo, Texas and is a part of the United Independent School District. Enrollment at United High School is 3,600. A new campus opened on August 24, 2009 for the 2009-2010 school year to alleviate overcrowding at the...
in Laredo, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, in July 2001.