Football
Mike Mutz
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Phone:
- 912-478-5522
A veteran of the college coaching industry with nearly 30 years of experience, Mike Mutz returns to Statesboro as the defensive coordinator after a record-setting, three-year run leading the Stephen F. Austin defense.
While at SFA, Mutz led one of the best defenses in the FCS, one that culminated in the ‘Jacks earning a No. 7 national seed in their return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2021.
In 2025, no team in the country spent more time in opponent’s backfields than the ‘Jacks as SFA led the FCS in tackles for loss per game (8.7) and carried a top-10 mark nationally in sacks per game (3.0). SFA recorded 122.0 total tackles for loss for 450 loss yards as SFA went on an 11-game winning streak during the season. Nine players earned all-conference honors which helped Mutz earn Football Scoop FCS Coordinator of the Year Finalist honors.
Defensively in 2024, Mutz’s Lumberjacks boasted a top-20 rushing defense nationally (160.3) and a top-10 passing efficiency defense (111.66) for the league’s second-best total defense at 343.4 yards per game in just his second season. SFA forced 28 turnovers, the sixth-most in FCS, of which 17 were interceptions. Bruce Harmon, a Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List honoree, and Jeremiah Walker, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American, signed UDFA deals. Harmon signed with the Dallas Cowboys, while Walker inked with the Chicago Bears.
Prior to SFA, Mutz spent seven seasons (2016-2022) with the Tulane Green Wave and established one of the top linebacker units in the nation.
The 2022 season is considered the greatest season in Tulane history, and Mutz’s linebackers were a big part of it. It’s the largest turnaround in FBS history – going from 2-10 to 12-2. The Green Wave finished the year ranked No. 9 in the country and captured the American Athletic Conference Championship and also won the Cotton Bowl in dramatic fashion coming back from a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes against perennial power Southern California.
Linebacker Dorian Williams was named the Defensive MVP of the game while linebacker Nick Anderson was the MVP of the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The duo combined for 244 tackles, including 15 for loss and 7.0 sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. Williams became a third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Draft while Anderson signed with the New Orleans Saints.
Following the 2020 season, Anderson earned third-team All-America honors by Pro Football Focus. In addition, Williams earned second-team All-AAC honors after he led the team in tackles. In his first season at Tulane, he coached future NFL player Nico Marley to a standout senior season that earned him first-team postseason honors from the AAC and Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Prior to Tulane, Mutz spent two seasons (2015-16) at Georgia Southern, where he helped the Eagles to a two-year overall record of 18-7, a combined Sun Belt Conference mark of 14-2, a GoDaddy.com Bowl Championship and a Sun Belt Championship.
In 2015, Mutz helped guide Georgia Southern to a 9-4 overall record and the school’s first win in its inaugural bowl game with a 58-27 win over Bowling Green in the 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl. In his first season with the Eagles, Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt Championship as the Eagles’ made their debut in the FBS. He worked with linebacker Edwin Jackson who was a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree, and signed a free agent NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals before going on to start for Indianapolis.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Mutz coached the 2014 season at Sam Houston State where he coached the Bearkat cornerbacks with Bookie Sneed earning first-team All-Southland Conference and Sports Network All-America third-team honors.
From San Antonio, Texas, Mutz spent three years as a defensive coordinator, two at Missouri Southern State and one at Blinn College before returning to the Sam Houston State program under Coach Willie Fritz.
Mutz’s MSSU Lions ranked at the top of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in total defense and rush defense in 2010, and held opponent defenses to the lowest first downs total in the league. All-Americans on the Lions’ defense included defensive tackle Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern State’s career sacks leader, who was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Mutz accepted a full-time position at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas in early 2001 and was part of the coaching staff that led the Greyhounds to three-straight playoff appearances.
A 1997 graduate of Colorado Mesa University, Mutz graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in coaching. He is married to Melissa and the couple has a son, Charles Lucas, and a daughter, Ella Grace.
THE MUTZ FILE
Personal
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Born: May 23, 1975 in Ennis, Texas
College: Colorado Mesa (1997); Southern Illinois (2000)
Family: wife, Melissa; son, Charles Lucas, daughter, Ella Grace
Playing Experience
Colorado Mesa (1993-96)
Coaching Experience
2026-: Georgia Southern (defensive coordinator)
2023-25: Stephen F. Austin (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2016-22: Tulane (linebackers)
2014-15: Georgia Southern (linebackers)
2013: Sam Houston State (defensive backs)
2012: Blinn College (defensive coordinator)
2010-11: Missouri Southern State (defensive coordinator/defensive backs)
2008-09: Missouri Southern State (special teams)
2006-07: Missouri Southern State (defensive backs)
2004-05: Sam Houston State (defensive line)
2001-03: Fort Scott (KS) CC (defensive line/special teams)
1998-00: Southern Illinois (defensive line/defensive backs)
College Bowl Experience
Coach
2025: FCS Quarterfinals (Stephen F. Austin)
2022: Cotton (Tulane vs. USC)
2020: Idaho Potato (Tulane vs. Nevada)
2019: Armed Forces (Tulane vs. Southern Miss)
2018: Cure (Tulane vs. Louisiana)
2015: GoDaddy (GS vs. Bowling Green)
2013: FCS Second Round (Sam Houston State)
2004: FCS Semifinals (Sam Houston State)
Prominent Pupils
Nick Anderson (LB): New Orleans Saints
Bruce Harmon (DB): Dallas Cowboys
Edwin Jackson (LB): Indianapolis Colts
Nico Marley (LB): Washington Redskins
Bart Scott (LB): New York Jets
Jeremiah Walker (DB): Chicago Bears
Brandon Williams (DT): Baltimore Ravens
Dorian Williams (LB): New York Jets
While at SFA, Mutz led one of the best defenses in the FCS, one that culminated in the ‘Jacks earning a No. 7 national seed in their return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2021.
In 2025, no team in the country spent more time in opponent’s backfields than the ‘Jacks as SFA led the FCS in tackles for loss per game (8.7) and carried a top-10 mark nationally in sacks per game (3.0). SFA recorded 122.0 total tackles for loss for 450 loss yards as SFA went on an 11-game winning streak during the season. Nine players earned all-conference honors which helped Mutz earn Football Scoop FCS Coordinator of the Year Finalist honors.
Defensively in 2024, Mutz’s Lumberjacks boasted a top-20 rushing defense nationally (160.3) and a top-10 passing efficiency defense (111.66) for the league’s second-best total defense at 343.4 yards per game in just his second season. SFA forced 28 turnovers, the sixth-most in FCS, of which 17 were interceptions. Bruce Harmon, a Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List honoree, and Jeremiah Walker, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American, signed UDFA deals. Harmon signed with the Dallas Cowboys, while Walker inked with the Chicago Bears.
Prior to SFA, Mutz spent seven seasons (2016-2022) with the Tulane Green Wave and established one of the top linebacker units in the nation.
The 2022 season is considered the greatest season in Tulane history, and Mutz’s linebackers were a big part of it. It’s the largest turnaround in FBS history – going from 2-10 to 12-2. The Green Wave finished the year ranked No. 9 in the country and captured the American Athletic Conference Championship and also won the Cotton Bowl in dramatic fashion coming back from a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes against perennial power Southern California.
Linebacker Dorian Williams was named the Defensive MVP of the game while linebacker Nick Anderson was the MVP of the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The duo combined for 244 tackles, including 15 for loss and 7.0 sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. Williams became a third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Draft while Anderson signed with the New Orleans Saints.
Following the 2020 season, Anderson earned third-team All-America honors by Pro Football Focus. In addition, Williams earned second-team All-AAC honors after he led the team in tackles. In his first season at Tulane, he coached future NFL player Nico Marley to a standout senior season that earned him first-team postseason honors from the AAC and Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Prior to Tulane, Mutz spent two seasons (2015-16) at Georgia Southern, where he helped the Eagles to a two-year overall record of 18-7, a combined Sun Belt Conference mark of 14-2, a GoDaddy.com Bowl Championship and a Sun Belt Championship.
In 2015, Mutz helped guide Georgia Southern to a 9-4 overall record and the school’s first win in its inaugural bowl game with a 58-27 win over Bowling Green in the 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl. In his first season with the Eagles, Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt Championship as the Eagles’ made their debut in the FBS. He worked with linebacker Edwin Jackson who was a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree, and signed a free agent NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals before going on to start for Indianapolis.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Mutz coached the 2014 season at Sam Houston State where he coached the Bearkat cornerbacks with Bookie Sneed earning first-team All-Southland Conference and Sports Network All-America third-team honors.
From San Antonio, Texas, Mutz spent three years as a defensive coordinator, two at Missouri Southern State and one at Blinn College before returning to the Sam Houston State program under Coach Willie Fritz.
Mutz’s MSSU Lions ranked at the top of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in total defense and rush defense in 2010, and held opponent defenses to the lowest first downs total in the league. All-Americans on the Lions’ defense included defensive tackle Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern State’s career sacks leader, who was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Mutz accepted a full-time position at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas in early 2001 and was part of the coaching staff that led the Greyhounds to three-straight playoff appearances.
A 1997 graduate of Colorado Mesa University, Mutz graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in coaching. He is married to Melissa and the couple has a son, Charles Lucas, and a daughter, Ella Grace.
THE MUTZ FILE
Personal
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Born: May 23, 1975 in Ennis, Texas
College: Colorado Mesa (1997); Southern Illinois (2000)
Family: wife, Melissa; son, Charles Lucas, daughter, Ella Grace
Playing Experience
Colorado Mesa (1993-96)
Coaching Experience
2026-: Georgia Southern (defensive coordinator)
2023-25: Stephen F. Austin (defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2016-22: Tulane (linebackers)
2014-15: Georgia Southern (linebackers)
2013: Sam Houston State (defensive backs)
2012: Blinn College (defensive coordinator)
2010-11: Missouri Southern State (defensive coordinator/defensive backs)
2008-09: Missouri Southern State (special teams)
2006-07: Missouri Southern State (defensive backs)
2004-05: Sam Houston State (defensive line)
2001-03: Fort Scott (KS) CC (defensive line/special teams)
1998-00: Southern Illinois (defensive line/defensive backs)
College Bowl Experience
Coach
2025: FCS Quarterfinals (Stephen F. Austin)
2022: Cotton (Tulane vs. USC)
2020: Idaho Potato (Tulane vs. Nevada)
2019: Armed Forces (Tulane vs. Southern Miss)
2018: Cure (Tulane vs. Louisiana)
2015: GoDaddy (GS vs. Bowling Green)
2013: FCS Second Round (Sam Houston State)
2004: FCS Semifinals (Sam Houston State)
Prominent Pupils
Nick Anderson (LB): New Orleans Saints
Bruce Harmon (DB): Dallas Cowboys
Edwin Jackson (LB): Indianapolis Colts
Nico Marley (LB): Washington Redskins
Bart Scott (LB): New York Jets
Jeremiah Walker (DB): Chicago Bears
Brandon Williams (DT): Baltimore Ravens
Dorian Williams (LB): New York Jets
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability (12/29/25)
Tuesday, December 30
Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State Highlights: JLab Birmingham Bowl (12/29/25)
Monday, December 29
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability (12/28/25)
Sunday, December 28
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability: JLab Birmingham Bowl (12/28/25)
Sunday, December 28
