Mickey Matthews
Encyclopedia
Michael Chester "Mickey" Matthews, (born November 8, 1953 in Andrews, Texas
) is the head football coach at James Madison University
(JMU), and has served in that role since 1999. Under Matthews's leadership, James Madison achieved a Division 1-AA national football championship in 2004. His overall record as a head coach at JMU is 96–60.
, in Texas, working with offensive backs. During the 1978 season, he joined Kansas State University
, as an assistant coach. During the 1980–1981 seasons, he served as a defensive coordinator of his alma mater West Texas State. From 1982–1985, he became an assistant coach at UTEP. In the following 1986 season, he worked at the University of Houston
as a defensive backs coach. In the 1987 season, he held that same position, only at Texas Christian University
. During the 1988 and 1989 seasons, he coached at Southwest Texas State. From 1990–1995, he served as the assistant head coach at Marshall University
. From 1996–1998 he coached Defensive Backs & Linebackers at the University of Georgia
, which won two bowl games under his tenure. While at Georgia
he coached Champ Bailey
, the nation's top defender and Washington's
first-round choice in the 1999 NFL draft
. Matthews left Georgia in January 1999 to become Defensive Coordinator at Baylor University
but resigned two months later to take the Head Coaching position at James Madison University.
that year, annually given to the top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision of Division 1 football. Five years later, after failing to make the postseason four years in a row, Matthews finally led the Dukes to the playoffs again. They became the first team to ever win three straight road games and win the National Championship
, defeating the University of Montana Grizzlies
31–21. The Dukes would make the playoffs again in 2006 and 2007. On February 25, 2008, amidst rumors of leaving JMU to help start the football program at The University of South Alabama
, Coach Matthews signed an extension with JMU to coach through the 2012 season. On September 27, 2008, JMU beat University of Maine 24–10, earning Matthews his 68th career win at JMU to become the school's all-time winningest coach. On November 22, 2008, the Matthews led Dukes defeated Towson University
to finish conference play undefeated, winning the CAA outright and qualifying for their third straight FCS playoff appearance. On January 7, 2010, Matthews signed a one year extension to his contract which now extends through the 2013 season.
, 21-16 in front of 66,233 at Lane Stadium
in Blacksburg
. James Madison became the second FCS team in college football history to knock off a ranked FBS opponent, the other being Appalachian State
over then #5 Michigan
in 2007. Later that season the Hokies
went onto win the ACC Championship
, Orange Bowl
and finished ranked #15, making the JMU upset even more remarkable. After the game, Matthews referred to the victory as "the biggest win in my professional career".
Andrews, Texas
Andrews is a city in and the county seat of Andrews County in the U.S. state of Texas within the West Texas region. The population was 10,448 in 2009. Along with Midland and Odessa, these cities form the Midland-Odessa Combined Statistical Area with a population of 241,316 in four counties...
) is the head football coach at James Madison University
James Madison Dukes football
The James Madison Dukes football team, founded in 1972, plays at Bridgeforth Stadium. Originally called JMU Stadium, it was renamed for William E. Bridgeforth in 1990. The JMU football team was rarely the centerpiece of JMU sports until the hiring of Mickey Matthews in 1999...
(JMU), and has served in that role since 1999. Under Matthews's leadership, James Madison achieved a Division 1-AA national football championship in 2004. His overall record as a head coach at JMU is 96–60.
Early career
Matthews started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Lamar Consolidated High SchoolLamar Consolidated High School
Lamar Consolidated High School is a grades 9–12 school located in Rosenberg, Texas, United States.The school, which serves serves the City of Richmond, parts of Rosenberg, the City of Kendleton, a minuscule part of Sugar Land, and unincorporated sections of Fort Bend County, is a part of the Lamar...
, in Texas, working with offensive backs. During the 1978 season, he joined Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
, as an assistant coach. During the 1980–1981 seasons, he served as a defensive coordinator of his alma mater West Texas State. From 1982–1985, he became an assistant coach at UTEP. In the following 1986 season, he worked at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
as a defensive backs coach. In the 1987 season, he held that same position, only at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. During the 1988 and 1989 seasons, he coached at Southwest Texas State. From 1990–1995, he served as the assistant head coach at Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
. From 1996–1998 he coached Defensive Backs & Linebackers at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, which won two bowl games under his tenure. While at Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
he coached Champ Bailey
Champ Bailey
Roland "Champ" Bailey is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Bailey was drafted in the 1st round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Georgia.Bailey is 8th among Broncos in all-time...
, the nation's top defender and Washington's
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
first-round choice in the 1999 NFL draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. Matthews left Georgia in January 1999 to become Defensive Coordinator at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
but resigned two months later to take the Head Coaching position at James Madison University.
Career at James Madison
Since 1999, Matthews has been the head coach at James Madison University. The team had gone 3–8 in the year before, but Matthews turned them around that season and led them to an 8–4 record, an Atlantic 10 title, and the school's first postseason appearance since 1995. Matthews won the Eddie Robinson AwardEddie Robinson Award
The Eddie Robinson Award is awarded annually to college football's top head coach in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The award was established by The Sports Network in 1987 and is voted upon by the division's sports information directors and selected sports writers...
that year, annually given to the top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision of Division 1 football. Five years later, after failing to make the postseason four years in a row, Matthews finally led the Dukes to the playoffs again. They became the first team to ever win three straight road games and win the National Championship
2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season
-NCAA Division I-AA Playoff bracket:* Denotes host institution-References:* http://www.ncaa.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/ncaa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FB-FCS-2004* http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_champs_records/2004/d1aa/confstat.htm...
, defeating the University of Montana Grizzlies
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
31–21. The Dukes would make the playoffs again in 2006 and 2007. On February 25, 2008, amidst rumors of leaving JMU to help start the football program at The University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
, Coach Matthews signed an extension with JMU to coach through the 2012 season. On September 27, 2008, JMU beat University of Maine 24–10, earning Matthews his 68th career win at JMU to become the school's all-time winningest coach. On November 22, 2008, the Matthews led Dukes defeated Towson University
Towson Tigers
The Towson Tigers, formerly Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson University. All of the major athletic teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association with 20 Division I athletic teams The Towson Tigers, formerly Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson...
to finish conference play undefeated, winning the CAA outright and qualifying for their third straight FCS playoff appearance. On January 7, 2010, Matthews signed a one year extension to his contract which now extends through the 2013 season.
2010 Virginia Tech victory
On September 10, 2010 Matthews led the Dukes upset then #13 Virginia TechVirginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
, 21-16 in front of 66,233 at Lane Stadium
Lane Stadium
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field is a stadium located in Blacksburg, Virginia. It is the home field of the Virginia Tech Hokies. It was rated the number one home field advantage in all of college football in 2005 by Rivals.com...
in Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
. James Madison became the second FCS team in college football history to knock off a ranked FBS opponent, the other being Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
over then #5 Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
in 2007. Later that season the Hokies
2010 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2010 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Hokies were led by 24th-year head coach Frank Beamer and played their home games at Lane Stadium...
went onto win the ACC Championship
2010 ACC Championship Game
The 2010 ACC Championship Game was a college football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Florida State Seminoles. The game, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, was the final regular-season contest of the 2010 college football season for the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Orange Bowl
2011 Orange Bowl
The 2011 Discover Orange Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Stanford Cardinal on Monday, January 3, 2011, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Stanford defeated Virginia Tech 40–12...
and finished ranked #15, making the JMU upset even more remarkable. After the game, Matthews referred to the victory as "the biggest win in my professional career".