Joe Lee Dunn

[The Old School JPS]

Do you remember Joe Lee Dunn, who used to have those very aggressive defenses at Mississippi State when he was their defensive coordinator (1996-2002) and was their head coach for a year? He was also the DC at Ole Miss and Arkansas during UK's Bill Curry years, and was the DC at Memphis after Jackie Sherrill cut him and other assistants loose in a vain attempt to save Sherrill's job. Dunn was also the DC at South Carolina for a few years and the head coach at New Mexico for a few years.

Anyway, I mention him because I remember his Mississippi State defenses well and I wondered what happened to him after he left Memphis.

I just learned tonight that Joe Lee Dunn is now the head football coach at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tennessee.

[PeachtreeCat]

I remember him well, Old School. I always thought he would be a good DC for UK back in some of our "porous" defensive years. Glad to hear he is still around but surprised he is no longer doing college.

[johnkyblue]

I think Joe Lee Dunn would have been perfect with Hal Mumme. Anyone else? No!

[Sam K.]

When we lost in Couch's sophomore year 35-27? down in Starkville I thought Dunn's defense was the difference in the game?

Yeah, johnkyblue, I think JLD would have worked well with Mumme.

[sojourner]

I don't know. I think Dunn would have strangled Mumme about the second time he tried one of his patented fake punts from deep in our territory.

It would take a special breed of person to be defensive coordinator for Mumme.

[bellbrass]

I don't know. I think Dunn would have strangled Mumme about the second time he tried one of his patented fake punts from deep in our territory.

It would take a special breed of person to be defensive coordinator for Mumme.

That would be Woody Widenhofer. The former Vanderbilt coach had the most success against Mumme's offenses, more so than Joe Lee Dunn's, if I recall. We still beat Vanderbilt more than Miss. St., but that was due to the difference in talent levels in both programs. If you recall, Mumme was complimentary towards Widenhofer's abilities to coach defense.

I always thought Joe Lee Dunn was more show than anything else - he was the one always lining up the defense in strange formations and bringing on the super-blitz. Did any of his defenses ever rank in the SEC top three?