About Lipscomb
Mike Munchak
On Feb. 7, 2011, the Tennessee Titans hired Mike Munchak to become the 16th head coach in franchise history and the first who was a former player for the team.
In his first year on the job, Munchak helped guide the Titans through the uncertainty of the NFL lockout. Although he and his staff did not have an offseason with the players, he guided the Titans to a 9-7 finish and a second-place finish in the AFC South.
In the process of leading the Titans to three more wins in 2011 than they recorded in 2010, Munchak became the sixth Titans/Oilers head coach to reach nine wins in his first season. Of the eight NFL head coaches in 2011 who were in their first full season at their current post, only San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh, whose team had 13 wins, finished with more wins than Munchak.
After a 12-year playing career as a guard for the Houston Oilers, Munchak spent three seasons as an offensive assistant/quality control coach. He became the offensive line coach in 1997 and held that position for 14 years. Four of his linemen totaled 10 Pro Bowl invitations, and his offensive lines paved the way for five different running backs to total 11 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
In 2001, Munchak became the fifth franchise player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He earned nine Pro Bowl invitations during his career and was bestowed the honor of having his Oilers No. 63 jersey retired in 1996.
As a line coach, Munchak was acknowledged as one of the finest teachers in the game. Only twice during his time coaching the line did he have the benefit of starting the same starting five linemen from one year to the next, and yet the Titans offensive lines were perennially among the best in the NFL. His offensive line allowed the second fewest sacks (28.3 sacks per season) in the NFL from 1997 through 2010. Additionally, the Titans ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards (124.5 yards per game) during the same time period. He helped Bruce Matthews, Brad Hopkins, Michael Roos and Kevin Mawae earn Pro Bowl invitations from his group in addition to helping design protection for Pro Bowlers Eddie George, Steve McNair, Vince Young, Kerry Collins and Chris Johnson. His group aided McNair to NFL co-MVP (2003) and Johnson to Offensive Player of the Year (2009) honors.
As a player, Munchak started 156 regular season games (seventh in franchise history) and 10 playoff games for the Oilers between 1982 and 1993. Respected for his play, he was selected to the NFL’s “All Decade” team for the 1980’s. Chronic knee problems led him to retire while still at the top of his game. In his final year, he earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. A versatile player, he started his career in a run-first offense with running back Earl Campbell and transitioned to a pass blocker in the run-n-shoot offense guided by quarterback Warren Moon. He retired on July 21, 1994.
A native of Scranton, Pa., Munchak was born on March 5, 1960. He went on to graduate from Penn State University with a degree in business administration in May 1982. The Houston Oilers made him the eighth overall pick and the first offensive lineman selected in the 1982 NFL Draft.
Munchak is married to Marci, and the couple has two grown daughters, Alexandria and Julie.
