Mike London facts for kids
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | William & Mary |
| Conference | CAA |
| Record | 36–26 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 9, 1960 West Point, New York, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1979–1982 | Richmond |
| 1983 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1989–1990 | Richmond (OLB) |
| 1991–1994 | William & Mary (DL) |
| 1995–1996 | Richmond (OLB/RC) |
| 1997–2000 | Boston College (DL) |
| 2001 | Virginia (DL) |
| 2002–2004 | Virginia (DL/RC) |
| 2005 | Houston Texans (DL) |
| 2006–2007 | Virginia (DC/DL) |
| 2008–2009 | Richmond |
| 2010–2015 | Virginia |
| 2016 | Maryland (AHC/DL) |
| 2017–2018 | Howard |
| 2019–present | William & Mary |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 98–87 |
| Bowls | 0–1 |
| Tournaments | 6–2 (NCAA D-I playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 NCAA Division I (2008) 2 CAA (2009, 2022) |
|
| Awards | |
| AFCA FCS Coach of the Year (2008) BCA National Coach of the Year (2008) ACC Coach of the Year (2011) |
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Michael Wilson London Sr. (born October 9, 1960) is a well-known American college football coach. He is currently the head football coach for the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Before becoming a head coach, London played college and professional football as a defensive back for the Richmond Spiders and the Dallas Cowboys. He also worked as a police officer and detective in Richmond, Virginia, before starting his coaching career.
Coach London has held many different coaching jobs, including at Richmond, William & Mary, Boston College, and Virginia. He even coached for the Houston Texans in the National Football League. Some of his most famous achievements include leading the University of Richmond to a national championship in 2008 and coaching Howard University to a huge upset victory in 2017.
Contents
Coaching Career Highlights
Early Coaching Roles
Mike London began his coaching journey as a linebacker coach at the University of Richmond. He then coached the defensive line at several universities, including the College of William & Mary, Boston College, and the University of Virginia. He also coached for the Houston Texans in the NFL.
While at the University of Virginia, London worked closely with future NFL star Chris Long. Chris Long later said that London was a coach who would always support his players.
Leading the Defense
In 2006, London became the defensive coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers. Under his leadership, Virginia's defense became very strong. They allowed fewer yards per game than any Virginia defense had in 27 years.
A memorable game for London's defense was in 2007 when Virginia played the Miami Hurricanes in their last game at the famous Miami Orange Bowl. Virginia's defense was amazing, and they won 48–0. This was Miami's worst loss at that stadium in 70 years. That season, Virginia's defense was one of the best in the country, helping the team win nine games.
Becoming a Head Coach
Richmond Spiders Football
In 2008, Mike London became the head coach of the Richmond Spiders. He took over a team that had done well the year before. After a tough start to the season, his team went on an amazing winning streak.
The 2008 Spiders won nine games in a row, including a big win against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. They ended their season with a 24–7 victory against the Montana Grizzlies in the NCAA Championship Game. This was the first national championship for the University of Richmond in any sport!
In 2009, Richmond continued their success. They upset the Duke Blue Devils from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Spiders started the season with eight straight wins. They even received a vote in the national AP Poll, which is rare for a team from their division.
Virginia Cavaliers Football
In December 2009, London was hired as the head football coach for the Virginia Cavaliers. He was the third African-American head football coach in the ACC conference.
In his first season (2010), Virginia finished with a 4–8 record. However, London was able to bring in a very strong group of new players for the next season.
In 2011, London led a big turnaround for the Cavaliers. They finished the regular season with an 8–4 record and won five games in their conference. They had exciting upset wins against Georgia Tech, Miami, and Florida State. After this successful season, London was named the ACC Coach of the Year.
The next few seasons (2012-2015) were challenging for the Virginia team, but London continued to focus on bringing in talented new players. He resigned from the position in November 2015.
Howard Bison Football
London became the head coach for the Howard University Bison in 2017. On September 2, 2017, his team achieved one of the biggest upsets in college football history! They defeated UNLV, a team that was expected to win by a huge margin. Howard won with freshman quarterback Caylin Newton leading the way.
The Bison finished the 2017 season with a strong 7–4 record. In 2018, the team finished 4–6, but Caylin Newton was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. London left Howard in November 2018 with a winning record of 11–10 over two years.
William & Mary Tribe Football
In 2019, Mike London returned to the College of William & Mary as their head coach. He had coached there earlier in his career as a defensive line coach.
Under his leadership, the William & Mary Tribe have continued to be a strong team. In 2022, they had an excellent season, finishing with an 11–2 record and sharing the conference championship. They also made it to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. As of 2025, he continues to lead the team.
Personal Life
Mike London's family is also involved in sports. His son, Brandon London, played as a wide receiver in the Canadian Football League. His younger brother, Paul London, played defensive back for Virginia. His daughter, Kristen London, played women's basketball at Virginia and now plays professional football for the Denver Bandits.
London is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Images for kids
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Mike London in 2012.
