Reports: Leach replaces McGuire with another former player as O-Line coach
When Mike Leach took the Washington State coaching job in December 2011, he hired one of his former players as offensive line coach for the Cougars.
Clay McGuire lasted six seasons with WSU before accepting a coach on the Texas Tech staff earlier this week. His successor? FootballScoop.com reported Sunday afternoon that Mason Miller, a former running back at Valdosta State for Leach in the mid-1990s, has been hired to fill the role of offensive line coach.
Miller, who spent the 2017 season as Nevada's O-Line coach (meaning he has already coached a game at Martin Stadium) , has extensive ties to the Air Raid offense as both a player and coach. Nevada's offensive coordinator is Matt Mummer, son of Hal Mumme, who, along with Leach, is credited as architect of the Air Raid.
Miller was an assistant under Hal Mummer at Southeastern Louisiana (2003-04), New Mexico State (2005-08) and McMurry (2009-12) before spending three seasons (2014-16) as the offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Tarleton State in Texas.
During his tenure at Tarleton, Miller constructed the team’s high powered offense into one of the most potent in the nation. In 2014 , Tarleton State ranked third nationally in total offense, averaging 534 yards per game and put up 43 points per game. The same continued in 2015 with one of the most high powered offenses in the country, averaging nearly 40 points per game.
Prior to Tarleton State, Miller served as the head coach at McMurry for the 2013 season when the War Hawks set school records in multiple categories, including total yards (5,775), yards per game (523.1) and most points scored (424).
Miller played running back at Valdosta State under Hal Mumme (and Leach, who was OC) for two seasons (1994-95) and was a member of the NCAA Division II team that made the national playoffs for the first time in school history. Miller stayed on at Valdosta State as a student assistant after suffering a career-ending knee injury. He was a part of the staff that led VSU to a 1996 Gulf South Conference Championship.
Miller reunited with Hal Mumme to start the Southeastern Louisiana University football program from scratch. Miller coached the running backs in 2003 and moved to coach the offensive line in 2004 and helped SE Louisiana rank No. 1 in the nation in total offense. Mumme took Miller with him to New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M. from 2005-08 and worked with the Aggies' offensive line all four years .
Mason Miller Personal File
Born: July 23, 1975
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
Family: Wife Megan; Daughters Madison and Mallory
Education: Bachelor's, Valdosta State, 1999
Coaching Experience
2017: Offensive Line, Nevada
2014-16: Assoc. Head Coach/Off. Coordinator, Tarleton State
2013: Head Coach, McMurry
2009-12: Off. Coordinator/Offensive Line, McMurry
2007-08: Assoc. Head Coach, New Mexico State
2005-06: Offensive Line, New Mexico State
2004: Offensive Line, Southeastern Louisiana
2003: Running Backs, Southeastern Louisiana
2000: Wide Receivers, Washington & Lee
1998-99: Off. Coordinator, Valwood High
Playing Experience: Valdosta State: Fullback (1994-95)
