Former Southeast coach steps into Army interim job

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Former Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford was announced as interim coach Monday at Army after the school fired Todd Berry, a former Southeast assistant.

Berry, who served as Southeast's offensive coordinator in 1991 under Mumford, was fired after compiling a 5-35 record over four years. Army is 0-6 this season, with no loss closer than 15 points.

Army has just one win in its last 17 games and eight consecutive losses. The Cadets were blanked at home by South Florida last month, marking their first home shutout loss since 1981.

Mumford was in his fourth season as Army's defensive line coach. He joined the Cadets' staff after Berry took over the program prior to the 2000 season.

Mumford was Southeast's coach from 1990 to 1999, compiling a 10-year record of 40-70 as he led the program's move from NCAA Division II up to Division I-AA.

In 1994, during Southeast's fourth Division I-AA season, the Indians went 7-5 and Mumford won the Ohio Valley Conference's coach of the year award. Five consecutive losing seasons followed, and Mumford resigned after the 1999 campaign.

"With seven games remaining on our schedule, John Mumford will provide our program with leadership as we continue the season," Lt. Gen. William Lennox Jr., superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, said in a release. "He possesses a wealth of head coaching experience, and his knowledge of the offense and defense will be helpful."

Lennox said a search will be underway in the next few weeks for a successor to Berry.