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Mike London Media Packet (PDF) ***2008 AFCA National Coach of the Year He played here. He graduated from here. He was an assistant coach here. And 11 months to the day of his introduction as Richmond's 33rd head coach, Mike London '83 led the Spiders to their first-ever National Championship.
Richmond finished off its memorable title run with a convincing 24-7 triumph over fourth-seeded and two-time champion Montana in the Football Championship Subdivision title game. London became just the second African-American and just the third rookie head coach to hoist the FCS Championship trophy. The cupboard was full for London, 48, who was introduced as Richmond's head coach on January 19, 2008. And with the weapons in place, London provided the ammunition by combining offensive efficiency with one of the nation's best defenses to capture the school's first NCAA title in any sport. Although finishing third in the rugged CAA Football South Division, the Spiders went 13-3 in 2008 to set a new school record for victories. Under London's watch, junior QB Eric Ward eclipsed a single-season school record for completion percentage (64.1), senior TB Josh Vaughan put up numbers (1,884 yards, 20 TDs) that rivaled 2007 All-American Tim Hightower, senior DE Lawrence Sidbury collected 11.5 sacks and the Spiders shattered a school-record with 29 interceptions. Sidbury was drafted in the fifth round by Atlanta and Vaughan was signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay. In 2008, 12 Spiders were named to the All-CAA Football Team, nine Spiders garnered 15 All-America awards and six were recognized on the Academic All-Conference Team. His efforts earned him the 2008 FCS National Coach of the Year honors from both the American Football Coaches Association and Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly magazine. London was also honored as the Black Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year in 2008, beating out Mike Tomlin of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers for the award. In addition to the national honors, London was tabbed the State Coach of the Year from both VaSID and the Peninsula Sports Club. Richmond awarded London with a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season, which was announced on June 30, 2009. This is London's first head coaching position and marks the first time at Richmond since the Ed Merrick era (1951-65) that an alumnus has led the football program. Before returning home, London had spent six of the previous seven seasons molding one of the nation's top defenses at the University of Virginia, most recently as the Cavaliers' defensive coordinator. He was instrumental in the development of five defensive players drafted in the NFL, most notably second-overall selection Chris Long in 2007. After spending the 2005 season as the defensive line coach with the NFL's Houston Texans, he returned to Al Groh's staff in 2006. A native of Hampton, Va., London played defensive back at Richmond from 1979-82. Under head coach Dal Shealy, he led the Spiders with six interceptions as a senior captain in 1982. In addition to earning All-State honors, he was chosen the team's MVP and received the Coaches Award. In 1982, the Virginia Peninsula Sports Club selected him as the male in-state Athlete of the Year. London broke into the coaching ranks in 1988, spending two seasons with Richmond as the outside linebackers coach and admissions liaison, followed by four years (1990-93) as the defensive line coach at William & Mary. He returned to Richmond for three more years (1994-96) as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator on Jim Reid's staff, coaching All-America LB Shawn Barber, who was a fourth-round draft pick by the Washington Redskins in 1998 and played 10 years in the NFL. Prior to his first coaching stint at UVa, London served as defensive line coach at Boston College from 1997-2000, where he helped lead the Eagles to two bowl appearances. He graduated from Richmond in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a year later received a degree in law enforcement from the Richmond Police Academy, serving as a detective for the street crimes unit from 1985-87. The Dallas Cowboys signed him as a free agent in 1983. Mike and his wife Regina have seven children, Michael, Jr., Brandon, Kristen, Ticynn, Korben, Jaicyn and Madicyn. His son, Brandon, led Massachusetts in receiving in 2006 and finished his career as the school's second-leading receiver. He was signed to the Miami Dolphins active roster on Aug. 31, 2008 after spending the 2007 season on the New York Giants practice squad. One of London's daughters, Kristen, is a senior guard on the UVa women's basketball team. His younger brother, Paul, was a DB at UVa from 1991-95. The Mike London File Personal Education Playing Experience Coaching Experience
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