Freedom in the Huddle

Darrell Mudra's book features an entire chapter written by yours truly, on sale now

Editor’s Note: Darrell Mudra may be a familiar name for many Iowans, and for good reason. He not only initiated the growth of UNI football a few decades ago, but his book, “Freedom in the Huddle” was first released in 1986.

This year’s re-release features a number of additions, including a historical section, which I authored.

While “Freedom in the Huddle” is my second book I have credits in (Rapture by Nick Nurse was the first), this is the first project in which I have actually written a chapter. My piece was focused on Darrell Mudra’s storied coaching career, from his early days in Omaha to Cedar Falls, Iowa and everything in between.

If you would like to purchase “Freedom in the Huddle,” it can be found here.

Without further adieu, here is a an excerpt of my chapter:

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A freshly graduated Darrell Mudra patiently scanned the landscape.

He’d just entered a quiet locker room well after the second quarter whistle, forcing his throng of young football players to contemplate their poor first half performance.

Trailing by 13 without having scored a single point in the 1951 Santa Claus Bowl, (the Pop Warner national championship) a team of rough-edged southern Omaha youths waited for their head coach to speak.

They lingered a bit longer, anxiously anticipating a fiery pep talk.

Nothing.

A few more minutes slipped away. The tension rose. 

Suddenly, the Omaha Phillips Midget head coach, then 22 at the time, shattered the painful silence with a few brief words.

“You chicken shits,” Mudra said, departing the locker room and leaving the players mingling among themselves.

The tension dissolved.

The pride of Nebraska, who seemed lost in the opening half, was now awoken with a jolt, out-scoring their opponents from Roanoke, Virginia with 13 unanswered points in the final two quarters, forcing a miraculous tie.

The magic of Darrell Mudra was born that day, unleashing a whirlwind of thought-provoking philosophy and impressive success.

Even as an inexperienced coach nearly 70 years ago, Mudra immediately realized the value of motivation. His inherent knack to unlock greatness within is a vital ingredient in Mudra’s Hall of Fame career, a three decade reign which produced 200 wins,  two national championships, six bowl appearances and 13 conference titles.

The Omaha, Nebraska native was a winner to the core, prevailing in more than 70 percent of his games coached, losing just 81 times and suffering four ties, accomplishments which earned him a College Football Hall of Fame induction in the year 2000.

Mudra’s productive athletic career was highlighted by his talents as a college fullback, leading Peru State College in points scored in 1950, later resulting in an all-conference selection.

The Nebraska-based school inducted Mudra into their athletic hall of fame as did North Dakota State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Western Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University, highlighting Mudra’s magnificent coaching accomplishments and the impact he left in his wake.

The legendary coach piled up milestones with remarkable regularity, becoming one of the most successful leading men in NCAA history. He produced a pair of national championships in addition to leading five different schools to conference titles in Division II and Division I-AA.

A born winner, Mudra often transformed disregarded waste into gold with remarkable quickness. He piled up victories with immense frequency no matter the odds, becoming one of the nation’s most well-regarded magicians, able to pluck a floundering program from the suffocating depths of mediocrity, catapulting it into greatness.

Mudra’s magnificent life story cannot simply be told by wins and losses. Mudra thrived under pressure, extracting the best out of everyone he came in contact with. Mudra’s career achievements are what will forever keep him locked into college football history, but it’s his unique path which sets him apart. 

Above all else, Mudra was the master of the turnaround, capitalizing on the resources at hand, never dwelling on the negative, only choosing to focus on the future. 

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Mudra grew up alongside six other brothers and sisters during the American Depression, which, true to his nature, did little to deter a youngster destined for greatness. His remarkable work ethic blossomed from his admiration of his dad’s dedication. His father worked long hours at a meat packing plant due to his third grade education, only allowing himself a break from the rigorous routine to witness the birth of his seven children.

Mudra grew into a man of several complex and tantalizing interests, valuing the importance of self-motivation most. The coach empowered his assistants and players at nearly every turn, placing a sincere emphasis on highlighting the team’s individual strengths, even sacrificing a secure job at the University of Arizona to stay true to his philosophy.

Mudra created opportunities for others before pursuing his own goals. He routinely hired promising assistants in an effort to hone their coaching abilities while simultaneously bolstering his own staff.

Mudra’s humility and passion allowed him to construct an impressive coaching tree over the years, which has spanned major Division I programs and even trickled into the NFL, including two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Shanahan, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, University of Northern Iowa head coach Mark Farley, former Kansas coach Terry Allen and several others. 

Mudra’s motivational tactics wove their way into his family life as well. His daughter, Sherry recalls how often her dad pushed toward greatness via her own dedication.

“As a child, I learned being intrinsically motivated from within was better than being motivated by any outside reward or punishment,” Sherry said.

Mudra developed a clear recipe for success as his career blossomed, tinkering ever-so-slightly at each stop, transforming lifeless products into explosively delicious concoctions. He wasn’t coy with the ingredients, either, willing to share his secrets with others.

Priority No. 1 was establishing a culture change.

“The first thing is to organize a proper coaching staff,” Mudra said in the Arizona Daily Star in 1966 (Dec. 23, pg. 20). “Allow the assistants to be productive. Assistants have a major role in my system.”

Step two required the coach to relinquish some of his usual power and extend it to the athletes. Allowing input from the ones actually performing on the field was a vital key in establishing trust.  

“Then I try to get the kids to believe that it is their football program and my staff and I try to help them become the best football players and help them with their academic and even personal problems,” Mudra added.

Ingredient three is just as critical. Mudra adds a sprinkle of patience to help tie the recipe together, typically resulting in the sweet taste of victory.

“I’m not a Knute Rockne type of coach,” he said. “I try to do the job by communicating directly to the players on an individual basis. I don’t try to get the tension so high that they can’t perceive the job they have to do during the game.”

Mudra was a natural in the coaching realm, rising through the ranks at an alarming pace. He initially piloted a Pop Warner team, snagging a few high school jobs before making the leap to the college world. 

He was first a talented prep athlete, making moves at his alma mater, Omaha South. 

–– • ––

Mudra's life is built around football.

He was a three-sport athlete at Omaha South High School (Nebraska), graduating in 1946. His prep success allowed him to gain a footing at Peru State College in Nebraska, earning varsity letters in basketball, track and football. He led the team in scoring as a fullback in 1950, earning an all-conference honor.

Mudra wasted little time transitioning into a coaching role following college graduation, taking the reins of the Omaha Phillips Midget team as a volunteer coach for two years. His time molding young athletes was his first taste of success from the sidelines. As a new and inexperienced coach, fresh out of college, Mudra impressively turned a rag-tag team of young athletes into one of the best squads in the entire nation. 

Mudra emphatically left his mark on the Pee Wee squad, leading the footballers to a district title in his first year (1951). The impressive triumph paved the way for Omaha's obliteration of a team from Las Vegas, 21-0, punching their ticket to the national championship game, where Omaha Phillips would compile its thrilling comeback against Virginia. (Tampa Tribune, Jan. 15, 1974).

Mudra was at it again the following year, guiding the Omaha team to the city championship in 1952 (Greeley Daily Tribune, Jan. 22, 1959).

The coach’s instant success garnered the interest of Omaha University, where he simultaneously served as a basketball assistant during his two-year run in the Pee Wee leagues. Mudra eventually caught the eye of Ashland High School (Nebraska) for a one year stay as their head football coach. As his success continued to mount, Mudra climbed the ranks. He led Tekamah High School (Nebraska) to a 15-8-4 record in three years as the varsity football coach, including a perfect, 9-0 season in 1954, securing a conference title and finishing ranked ninth in the state of Nebraska. Mudra also served as the head basketball and track and field coach, winning a pair of conference titles on the hardwood.

Mudra made the leap to college in 1957 as a backfield coach with the Huron College football team in South Dakota, showcasing his natural skills as a salesman, becoming one of the school’s top recruiters (The Daily Plainsman, Huron, S.D. May 15, 1958 pg. 9). Mudra played a key role in Huron's 9-1 record on the gridiron during his first and only year on campus, also finding time to hold dual roles as head coach of the basketball and track and field teams. Mudra guided the Huron basketball team to an 11-5 record in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference, one of the best marks in the school’s recent history. (The Daily Plainsman, Huron, S.D. May 15, 1958) 

Mudra’s evolution was beginning to take shape.  

His young and expanding coaching journey took him to Colorado State College for a year as he studied for his doctorate in physical education and psychology. He managed to finagle his way onto the Colorado State football coaching staff as a graduate assistant for the 1958 season.

The step up in competition allowed Mudra to gain a foothold in the college world, paving the way for his eventual rise. Mudra snatched his first college head coaching gig in 1959, packing his things and making the brief, five hour drive south from Fort Collins to Alamosa, Colorado, hoping to pilot a resurgence at struggling Adams State College.