LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State head football coach Doug Martin announced the hiring of John Mumford Friday afternoon. Mumford replaces the outgoing Kerry Locklin, who took a job with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
 
"We are excited to add a coach with the experience of Coach Mumford," Martin said. "He has excelled as not only a defensive line coach, but as a defensive coordinator and even as a head coach at the college level. Our football program just got better with this addition."
 
Mumford comes to New Mexico State with 35 years of experience, including 29 at the Division I level. The coaching veteran last served as the interim head coach at ULM for a short stint in 2015 and was the defensive lines coach for the 2014 campaign under head coach Todd Berry.
 
In his first season with the Warhawks, Mumford's defensive line was ranked 10th in the country with 32.5 tackles for loss and 13th in sacks. He also coached the first ULM defensive lineman to lead the team in tackles since 1980 and guided Gerrand Johnson to a First-Team All-Sun Belt honor.
 
Prior to his time at ULM, Mumford spent 14 seasons at Army – including three under Berry. While working alongside Berry, Mumford managed the defensive line before becoming the acting head coach in 2003. From 2004-08, he was the defensive coordinator for two separate head coaches and wrapped up his time at West Point as the defensive ends coach. Mumford and the Black Knights also defeated SMU in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2010.
 
Mumford earned his first head coaching position at Southeast Missouri State a year after joining the Redhawks program in 1989 where he was at the helm for nine years (1990-99). Just four years into his first head coaching job, Mumford was named the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year (1994).
 
His first full-time coaching position came at the University of South Dakota in 1982. Mumford served three seasons as the defensive lines coach (1982-84) before being promoted to defensive coordinator. He also worked with the defensive backs in conjunction to his DC responsibilities from 1985-88. During his first year as the defensive coordinator (1985), Mumford helped guide the Jackrabbits to the NCAA Division II semifinals. A year later, Mumford's defense led South Dakota to a runner-up finish at the national championship game.
 
The Lawrence, Kan., native made his debut in the collegiate ranks in his hometown at Kansas in 1980 as a graduate assistant. During his time with the Jayhawks, Mumford served as the junior varsity head coach and defensive lines coach.
 
He made his coaching debut at Topeka High School as the defensive lines coach in 1979 and never looked back.
 
Mumford was born on Christmas Day in 1956 and is married to his wife Leslie of 36 years. The two have three daughters, Jenna, Meghan and Lauren.