By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In just a short time, Chase Mummau has proven himself to be a great defensive mind and a young talent in the profession. Now, with an Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Conference Football Association title under his belt, Mummau will get an opportunity to help lead the Tennessee Tech football team to new heights as Golden Eagle head football coach Bobby Wilder has promoted Mummau to the defensive coordinator position.
The team announced the move on Friday.
"We are all excited with the promotion of Chase Mummau to Defensive Coordinator," Wilder said. "Chase did an outstanding job in 2024 for our team. He is not only a good coach, he is a good person as well as a good recruiter.
"Our 2024 defense was No. 1 in the league in points allowed, No. 1 in yards allowed per game as well as No. 1 in the league and No. 2 in the nation in rushing yards allowed. With a strong nucleus of defensive players and coaches returning along with some outstanding additions in recruiting, we felt it was critical to maintain our momentum and scheme on defense."
Wilder continued, "We all look forward to Coach Mummau as our Defensive Coordinator in 2025 and beyond."
Mummau, who is beginning his second year with the Tech program, oversaw the safeties in the 2024 campaign. With the new responsibility ahead, the sky's the limit for the coach.
"I'm excited for this opportunity to coordinate the defense here at Tennessee Tech," Mummau said. "It's been a pleasure so far being able to create some incredible relationships with the coaches and players in our organization as well as those in our community. We're going to maintain our defensive structure from last season, but will fine-tune certain elements.
"I want to thank Coach Wilder and the rest of the staff for giving me this opportunity. I can't wait to get to work to continue the pedigree of the Tennessee Tech defense here in Cookeville. #H.U.N.T."
Under his watch, the Tech safeties thrived. The Golden Eagles were also second in the conference in turnover margin, helped by three interceptions each for Tim Coutras and Omari Philyaw. Coutras was also among the league leaders in passes defended en route to a first-team all-conference nod.
Tech allowed 33 total touchdowns – six fewer than conference automatic qualifier Southeast Missouri – and an average 21.9 points per game to lead the combined conference. The Golden Eagles allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards with 2,970 and were tied for third for the fewest passing touchdowns in the league. Tech picked off 16 passes – the second-most interceptions in the conference – with two returned for touchdowns.
The Golden Eagles allowed the fewest offensive yards in the conference with 3,965 – nearly 300 yards fewer than the next team in the league standing. In rushing defense, Tech allowed a scant 82.92 yards per game, including holding Tennessee State, who appeared in the FCS Playoffs, to exactly zero rushing yards in their meeting this season.
Mummau, who spent his undergraduate days as a quarterback at Virginia Tech, spent time coaching on the Football Bowl Subdivision with Wake Forest. In 2023, he was a graduate assistant coach, working with the defensive backs. In that role, he helped create day-to-day plans, create cutups for meetings, evaluate defensive backs in the transfer portal and execute practice plans.
Earlier in his time at Wake, he was also a defensive quality control coach and defensive analyst. In this role, he charted game information and helped break down information in-game and figured out what the opposing offense was executing against them. Mummau spent his first few months at WFU as a player personnel intern, evaluating recruits' game and workout tapes, breaking down those for profiles and discerning the true potential of prospects.
Mummau, who earned his bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in multimedia journalism – with an emphasis on sports media analytics – also spent time as an analyst for 93.1 The Drive, the ESPN affiliate in Blacksburg, Va., and on the Black and Drew Sports Huddle on ESPN Richmond.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
