Mike London | College of William & Mary

•  2008 FCS NATIONAL CHAMPION HEAD COACH 

•  2008 AFCA FCS NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR 

•  2011 ACC COACH OF THE YEAR 

•  2017, 2022 FCS EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD FINALIST 

•  2017 AFCA REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

•  2022 BOBBY ROSS COACH OF THE YEAR

•  2022 VaSID COACH OF THE YEAR

After leading the William & Mary football team to one of the program’s best seasons in school history last fall, Head Coach Mike London returns for his fifth season at the helm of the Tribe.

 

Under London’s leadership, W&M catapulted to the national forefront in 2022 as it secured a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title, earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Playoffs and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Additionally, W&M equaled a school record for wins (11) and posted program records for regular season victories (10) and road triumphs (6). Highlighting the wins were three victories against nationally ranked opponents and a lopsided season-opening triumph at FBS opponent Charlotte.

 

W&M's success was recognized at the national level, as London was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS National Coach of the Year, and finished fourth in the final voting. Additionally, London was selected as the Bobby Ross Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond and the VaSID (Virginia Sports Information Directors) Coach of the Year.

 

In addition to the team’s success, a number of Tribe standouts were recognized with national honors for their outstanding individual contributions. Highlighting an impressive group of six players who earned All-America recognition were linebacker John Pius, offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal and cornerback Jalen Jones. Pius was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS National Defensive Player of the Year) and finished second in the final voting, while Jones was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman of the Year). Sorsdal garnered consensus All-America distinction and was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl before being selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

 

Additionally, 13 Tribe standouts combined to earn 15 all-conference honors, highlighted by a school-record tying seven first-team selections, including the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, John Pius, and the CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jalen Jones.

 

W&M also rewrote its record book in 2022, as it set single-season school records for rushing yards (3,455), rushing yards per game (265.8) and rushing yards per carry (5.9). Additionally, the Tribe’s points per game (33.5), rushing touchdowns (35) and total yards per game (448.8) all ranked among the program’s top five. Defensively, W&M’s 33 sacks also ranked as the seventh-best total in school history.

The Tribe also excelled in the classroom as 55 players earned CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll accolades during the spring semester.

Under London’s leadership, W&M continued its upward trajectory during the 2021 campaign as it posted the program’s most wins since 2015 and garnered a national ranking in multiple weeks. Highlighting the notable victories was a 31-18 road win at No. 4 Villanova. W&M finished the year with the CAA’s most productive rushing offense and the nation’s 12th-ranked rushing defense.   

 

Individually, seven Tribe standouts earned postseason all-conference honors, highlighted by a pair of All-America standouts in defensive end Nate Lynn, a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist for national defensive player of the year, and left tackle Andrew Trainer, who signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. Additionally, quarterback Darius Wilson was selected as the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year.

 

In addition to the success on the field, London’s squad distinguished itself in the classroom as 33 players were recognized on the CAA Football Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll for the fall semester.

 

Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited London’s second season with the Tribe to a three-game slate during the spring, he successfully guided the program through the challenges. A pair of standouts – left tackle Andrew Trainer and defensive end Will Kiely – both earned all-conference honors, while standout freshman running back Malachi Imoh garnered all-state distinction.

 

The team also continued its tradition of academic excellence, as a program-record 69 players earned CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll Accolades during the fall semester.

 

London’s first season leading the Tribe provided a glimpse of the program’s bright future, as the squad concluded the 2019 campaign with wins in three of its final four games – including a Capital Cup victory at long-time rival Richmond in the season finale. In addition to helping five W&M standouts earn all-conference honors, defensive tackle Bill Murray garnered All-America distinction and signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots. Additionally, four members of the squad earned Freshman All-America honors.

 

Under London’s leadership, the Tribe also dramatically improved in a number of offensive statistical categories during his first season in Williamsburg. In addition to nearly doubling its scoring production from the previous year (25.2), W&M increased its total offense by nearly 100 yards per game. The Tribe also increased its rushing average by more than 130 yards per contest and more than quadrupled its rushing touchdown total (26) – an impressive figure that ranked just outside the program’s all-time top-10 list.  

The Tribe also excelled academically under London's leadership, as a then-program-record 51 student-athletes earned CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll distinction during the spring semester.

 

London, a former assistant under longtime Tribe head coach Jimmye Laycock, returned to Williamsburg with an impressive list of accomplishments as a head coach that includes winning a national title at the University of Richmond (2008) and earning Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year distinction at the University of Virginia (2011).

Howard University’s head coach from 2017-18, London’s tenure leading the Bison was highlighted with his selection as a finalist for the 2017 STATS Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Eddie Robinson Award, which is bestowed upon the nation’s top head coach. Additionally, he earned the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year award after guiding Howard to a 6-2 conference record – the program’s first winning season since 2012. His inaugural campaign at HU featured a season-opening win at UNLV, which ESPN lauded as one of college football’s greatest upsets.

 

Prior to his two-year stint at HU, London served as an associate head coach/defensive line coach at the University of Maryland in 2016 where he helped lead the Terps to an appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl.

 

In addition to garnering ACC Coach of the Year honors at UVA in 2011, London led the Cavaliers to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. En route to earning the postseason bowl bid, he guided UVA to road wins at Miami and Florida State – becoming the first program in the nation to accomplish the feat in the same season.

 

London gained his first head coaching experience at Richmond, his alma mater, where he amassed a 24-5 record and guided the Spiders to the 2008 FCS national title during his initial campaign. His efforts were recognized by the AFCA, which selected him as the FCS National Coach of the Year. After leading the Spiders to an 8-0 start the following season, UR became just the third FCS school to receive a vote in the Associated Press (AP) Poll.

 

London landed the head coaching job at UR after an exceptional two-year stint as UVA’s defensive coordinator (2006-07). During his first season, the Cavaliers allowed just 289.5 yards per game – the program’s best figure in 27 years. The following season, London’s defense ranked sixth nationally in sacks and among the nation’s top 20 in scoring defense and rushing defense. London oversaw the development of an outstanding group of All-ACC honorees, highlighted by 2007 unanimous All-America standout Chris Long, who was the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

 

Before returning to UVA, where he was an assistant from 2001-04, London spent the 2005 season in the NFL as the Houston Texans’ defensive line coach. London’s first stint with the Cavaliers also included serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator from 2002-04.

 

London, a native of Hampton, Va., began his coaching career as the outside linebackers coach at Richmond in 1988 before coaching the defensive line at William & Mary under Jimmye Laycock (1991-94). He then returned to UR for two more years (1995-96) as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator before taking on the defensive line coaching duties at Boston College from 1997-00.

 

A standout defensive back at Richmond (1979-82), London served as a team captain his senior season and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 1983.

 

London graduated from UR in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a year later earned a degree in law enforcement from the Richmond Police Academy. He served as a detective from 1985-87.

 

London and his wife, Regina, have four children: daughters Ticynn, Jaicyn and Madicyn and son Korben.  He has three children from a previous marriage: sons Michael Jr. and Brandon, and daughter Kristen.