The Winona Christian basketball program has new leadership at the top.
With boys coach Keith Ware and girls coach Lee Hazlewood stepping down, Winona Christian turned to a somewhat familiar face in Carroll Academy’s Nick Mumme.
Mumme comes to Winona Christian after serving as an assistant at Carroll for the last five years.
“At the end of the basketball season, coach (Junior) Graham got in touch with me,” Mumme said. “When they contacted me, I thought it was the perfect situation for me. I think they have a really good environment. We had been talking about after our boys finished their run and we finally got a deal done.”
Mumme graduated from Carroll in 2011 and went to Mississippi State where he worked with the basketball team as a student assistant. He then returned to Carroll where he coached the junior high girls and was an assistant with the other basketball teams.
Mumme said it was hard to leave the place where he grew up and worked for the last five years.
“When I had to tell the kids it as tough,” Mumme said. “It was hard to tell them but they were understanding that it was a chance to get a head coaching position. They were a great group. It’s tough to say goodbye to coach (Tommy) Acy and coach (Sherry) Fulton. They helped me get started in my coaching career.”
Mumme said he feels like he is getting to Winona Christian at the right time.
“One of the things that excites me is they had a really good year in junior high,” Mumme said. “The junior high girls won the district championship and boys finished second. That’s what really excites me. I think it’s something we can build a program with. The team and environment has me really excited about going over there.”
Mumme will be coaching both the boys and girls high school teams as well as the junior high girls. Mumme said he plans to play a pressure-style of offense and defense.
“We are going to be a team that runs the floor and plays man to man on defense,” Mumme said. “We are going to be disciplined on defense and when we get a rebound, we are going to run and fun. We are going to be in your face for four quarters, in the full court and the half court.”
Mumme said he is ready to get working with his new teams.
“I have been in contact with them but haven’t been able to sit down and talk with them,” Mumme said. “They are a very competitive group and they are ready to get started in the gym. We are planning on going to some camps if they have them. If it is safe, we will go. It’s sort of wait and see at this point. I’m just excited to get started.”
Mumme said he will be teaching history at the school as well.
