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{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1981)}}
'''Sonny Cumbie''' (born [[August 8]], [[1981]] in [[Abilene, Texas]]) is an American quarterback currently playing for the San Angelo Stampede Express of the Indoor Football League.
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| embed =
| name = Sonny Cumbie
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = <!-- 15 -->
| current_team = Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
| position = [[Head coach]] <!-- [[Quarterback]] -->
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|8|8|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Abilene, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 220
| high_school = [[Snyder High School (Texas)|Snyder]]<br>([[Snyder, Texas]])
| college = [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]]
| undraftedyear = 2005
| pastteams =
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|2005}})*
* [[Los Angeles Avengers]] ({{AFL Year|2006}})
* [[Baltimore Ravens]] ({{NFL Year|2006}})*
* Los Angeles Avengers ({{AFL Year|2007}}–{{AFL Year|2008}})
* [[San Angelo Stampede Express]] (2009)
| pastcoaching =
* [[San Angelo Stampede Express]] (2009) <br /> Head coach & director of player personnel
* [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]] (2009–2010) <br /> Graduate assistant
* Texas Tech (2011–2012) <br /> Wide receivers coach
* Texas Tech (2013) <br /> Co-offensive coordinator & outside receivers coach
* [[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU]] (2014–2016) <br /> Co-offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
* TCU (2017–2020) <br /> Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
* Texas Tech (2021) <br /> Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
* Texas Tech (2021) <br /> Interim head coach
* [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech]] (2022–present) <br /> Head coach
| status =
| highlights =
| aflstatseason =
| aflstatlabel1 = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| aflstatvalue1 = 193–38
| aflstatlabel2 = Passing yards
| aflstatvalue2 = 10,218
| aflstatlabel3 = Completion percentage
| aflstatvalue3 = 59.4
| aflstatlabel4 = [[Passer rating]]
| aflstatvalue4 = 103.8
| afl = Sonny_Cumbie-5043
| regular_record = <!-- {{Winning percentage|ww|ll|tt|record=y}} -->
| playoff_record = <!-- {{Winning percentage|ww|ll|tt|record=y}} -->
| overall_record = NCAA: {{Winning percentage|13|28|record=y}}<br />Bowls: {{Winning percentage|1|0|record=y}}
}}
'''Sonny Jack Cumbie''' (born August 8, 1981) is an [[American football]] coach and former [[quarterback]]. He is the head football coach at [[Louisiana Tech University]], a position he has held since the 2022 season. Cumbie previously served as the [[offensive coordinator]] and [[quarterbacks coach]] at [[Texas Tech University]] and was the interim head coach after the departure of [[Matt Wells (American football coach)|Matt Wells]] in 2021. He also served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at [[Texas Christian University]] (TCU). Cumbie played [[college football]] at Texas Tech and was the team's starting quarterback during the [[2004 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|2004 season]], when he led the nation in passing and total offense and a guided the Red Raiders to win in the [[2004 Holiday Bowl]], earning MVP honors for the game. Cumbie played professionally in the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL), the [[Indoor Football League]] (IFL), and briefly in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).


==High school years==
==Early life==
Cumbie attended Snyder High School in [[Snyder, Texas]], and was a three-sport [[letterman]] in [[High school football|football]], [[basketball]], and [[baseball]]. In football, as a senior, he won first team All-District honors, Honorable Mention All-South Plains honors, and was named the District [[M.V.P.]] In basketball, he won All-District honors and All-Big Country honors. In baseball, he was named the District MVP as a senior. Sonny Cumbie graduated from Snyder High School in 2000.
Cumbie attended [[Snyder High School (Texas)|Snyder High School]] in [[Snyder, Texas]], and was a three-sport [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] in [[High school football|football]], [[basketball]], and [[baseball]]. In football, as a senior, he won first team All-District honors, Honorable Mention All-South Plains honors, and was named the District [[Most valuable player|MVP]] He was coached by David Baugh, the son of quarterback [[Sammy Baugh]]. In basketball, he won All-District honors and All-Big Country honors. In baseball, he was named the District MVP as a senior. Cumbie graduated from Snyder High School in 2000. He received scholarship offers from [[Tarleton State University]] and [[West Texas A&M University]]. Cumbie declined them both and enrolled at [[Texas Tech University]], about 80 miles from Snyder, and decided to accept an invitation to walk on to the football team from head coach [[Mike Leach (American football coach)|Mike Leach]].


==College career==
==College career==
===2000–2003===
Cumbie played [[college football]] for the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech Red Raiders]]. Cumbie served as a back up [[quarterback]] until his senior year when he led the nation in passing yards with 4,742, the sixth most all-time in [[NCAA]] [[Division I]] history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laavengers.com/team/about/profile.php?intProfileID=19&strProfileType=Players|title=LAAvengers.com - Profiles: Sonny Cumbie|accessdate=2008-07-18}}</ref>
Cumbie [[walk-on (sports)|walked on]] at Texas Tech, where he had enrolled as a student. Cumbie was on the scout team during the 2000 season, and earned a scholarship to be on the team prior to the 2001 season. He served as third-string quarterback behind [[Kliff Kingsbury]] and [[B. J. Symons]] during the 2001 season. Cumbie saw his first action during a 2002 win over New Mexico. He completed his first pass against [[Baylor University]]. After Kingsbury graduated, Symons was named the starter and Cumbie became the back-up. Tech blew out many opponents that year, giving Cumbie plenty of mop up time. He threw his first and only touchdown as a back-up against Baylor in a 62–0 rout in 2003. Prior to the 2004 season, he completed 40 passes out of 62 attempts for 374 yards and a touchdown with a 65.5 completion percentage.
===Holiday Bowl===

Cumbie lead #23 ranked [[Texas Tech University|Texas Tech]] to a win in the [[NCAA football bowl games, 2004–05#Holiday Bowl|2004 Holiday Bowl]] over then #4 [[California Golden Bears football|California Golden Bears]]. Cumbie went 39-60 (65%) and a career high 520 yards and three touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/123104aab.html|title=No. 4 Cal Upset By Texas Tech In Holiday Bowl, 45-31|accessdate=2008-07-18}}</ref> His performance in that game earned him MVP honors.
===2004===
Cumbie earned the starting spot for the 2004 season over highly recruited junior college quarterback Robert Johnson and redshirt junior [[Cody Hodges]]. Cumbie led the Raiders to 7 regular season wins over SMU (27–13), TCU (70–35), Kansas (31–30), Nebraska (70–10), Kansas State (35–25), Baylor (42–17), and Oklahoma State (31–15). The Raiders were upset by New Mexico 27–24 and lost close games to division rivals Oklahoma (28–13), an overtime loss to Texas A&M (32–25), and were also defeated by the University of Texas (51–21). The Raiders finished the regular season 7–4, with a 5–3 conference record tied for third in the Big 12 South, and were invited to play a top 5 [[University of California]] team in the [[Holiday Bowl]]. Cumbie finished the regular season as the national leader in passing yards and passing offense.

Cumbie lead #23 ranked [[2004 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]] to a win in the [[NCAA football bowl games, 2004–05#Holiday Bowl|2004 Holiday Bowl]] over [[Aaron Rodgers]], who led the #4 [[California Golden Bears football|California Golden Bears]]. The Raiders were huge underdogs, but Cumbie went 39–60 (65%) and a career-high 520 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Raiders to the win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/123104aab.html|title=No. 4 Cal Upset By Texas Tech In Holiday Bowl, 45–31|access-date=2008-07-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106081033/http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/123104aab.html|archive-date=January 6, 2009}}</ref> His performance in that game earned him M.V.P. honors. Cumbie finished the season his Senior season with 4,742 passing yards, completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 32 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions, and became the third straight Red Raider quarterback to lead the nation in passing.

===Statistics===
{| class="wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the NCAA
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Rushing average}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}}
|-
! [[2001 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2001]] !! [[2001 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]]
| 0 || colspan="12"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! [[2002 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2002]] !! [[2002 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]]
| 2 || 5 || 6 || '''83.3''' || 34 || 5.7 || 0 || 0 || 130.9 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2003]] !! [[2003 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]]
| 6 || 35 || 56 || 62.5 || 340 || 6.1 || 1 || 1 || 115.8 || 6 || '''1''' || '''0.2''' || 0
|-
! [[2004 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2004]] !! [[2004 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]]
| '''12''' || '''421''' || '''642''' || 65.6 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''4,742''' || '''7.4''' || '''32''' || '''18''' || '''138.5''' || '''52''' || -167 || -3.2 || '''2'''
|-
! colspan="2"| Career<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/sonny-cumbie-1.html|title=Sonny Cumbie College Stats|work=[[Sports Reference]]|accessdate=March 23, 2021}}</ref> !! 20 !! 461 !! 704 !! 65.5 !! 5,116 !! 7.3 !! 33 !! 19 !! 136.6 !! 58 !! -166 !! -2.9 !! 2
|}


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
Cumbie was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] after college, but later released. And as of the 2006 season he briefly signed with the [[Baltimore Ravens]], but was released. Today Cumbie is the [[Starting lineup|starting]] quarterback for the San Angelo Stampede Express of the [[Indoor Football League]]. Cumbie, who started 12 games last season as a [[rookie]], returns as the Avengers starting quarterback in 2007. He agreed to a two-year contract on Oct. 19, 2005, which will keep him in Los Angeles through the [[2007 AFL season]]. Playing in a total of 13 games in 2006, Cumbie completed 268-of-450 for 3,241 yards and 59 touchdowns in 2006. He also scored three touchdowns on the ground. In 2007 Cumbie led the Avengers to the playoffs while throwing for 83 touchdown passes and 4,370 yards.
After completing his college career, Cumbie was not drafted in the 2005 draft but was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and later released. In 2006 Cumbie then joined the [[Los Angeles Avengers]] in the [[Arena Football League]]. He started 12 games his first season as a [[rookie]], and won Rookie of the Year. Cumbie was invited back to the NFL by the [[Baltimore Ravens]] and signed a free agent contract in 2006 but was released. He returned as the Avengers starting quarterback in 2007. Playing in a total of 13 games in 2006, Cumbie completed 268-of-450 for 3,241 yards and 59 touchdowns in 2006. He also scored three touchdowns on the ground. In 2007 Cumbie led the Avengers to the playoffs while throwing for 83 touchdown passes and 4,370 yards. After the AFL folded in 2009, Cumbie joined the San Angelo Stampede of the [[Indoor Football League]] as the head coach and director of player personnel. Cumbie then became the starting quarterback for the team and led the team to the playoffs and a playoff win.


==Coaching career==
In the AFL offseason, Cumbie resides in [[Lubbock, Texas]] where he serves as a [[color commentator]] on the Texas Tech Sports Network for football games. He was brought by the San Angelo Stampede Express of the Indoor Football league to coach but then after a rough start he took the reigns and became starting quarterback. The Stampede Express have signed Coach Billy Jack Ray. He comes to the San Angelo Stmapede Express after a year with the Frisco Thunder. Ray is a 1994 graduate of Stephenville High School. During which time he played for the 1993 4A State Championship team. Following graduation he went onto play guard for Texas Tech from 1997-1998.
===Texas Tech (first stint)===
He played two years with the Bismark Roughriders of the National Indoor Football League(NIFL) as well as one year with the Lubbock Lonestars of the Intense Football League(IFL).
In 2009, Cumbie began his coaching career at Texas Tech as a graduate assistant under head coach [[Mike Leach (American football coach)|Mike Leach]] where he was in charge of the defensive scout team and coaching the quarterbacks. In this role, he worked with quarterbacks [[Taylor Potts]], [[Steven Sheffield]], and [[Seth Doege]]. Cumbie served in this capacity for two seasons.
His Coaching credits include one year with the Lubbock Gunslingers of the IFL, the Katy Copperheads of the NIFL, the Texas Copperheads of the AFL, and finally one year with the Frisco Thunder of the IFL. Ray resides in Stephenville in the off season.


After Leach's departure, [[Tommy Tuberville]] was hired as the head coach for the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|team]]. He promoted Cumbie to inside receivers coach, a post held formerly by current [[University of Southern California]] [[head coach]] Lincoln Riley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redraiders.com/2010/01/25/cumbie-to-promoted-to-inside-receivers-coach/ |title=Cumbie promoted to inside receivers coach {{!}} Red Raiders |website=www.redraiders.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130030142/http://www.redraiders.com/2010/01/25/cumbie-to-promoted-to-inside-receivers-coach/ |archive-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref> One of the receivers he coached was [[Eric Ward (wide receiver)|Eric Ward]].
== References ==
{{reflist}}(Dead Link)


Following the hiring of coach [[Kliff Kingsbury]] after the subsequent departure of [[Tommy Tuberville]] from Texas Tech, Cumbie was the only assistant retained by Kingsbury. Cumbie was promoted along with [[Eric Morris (coach)|Eric Morris]] to be co-offensive coordinator prior to the start of the 2013 season. During that season, Tech would score 465 points and win the [[Holiday Bowl]] over 16th ranked [[Arizona State University|Arizona State]]. As a team, they threw for 5,107 yards and 35 touchdowns while running for 1,593 yards (including sacks) and 19 touchdowns.
== External links ==

* [http://www.arenafootball.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=244691&DB_OEM_ID=3500 Arena Football League profile]
===TCU===
Stefan Stevenson<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.footballscoop.com/the-scoop|title = The Scoop - Thursday October 28, 2021}}</ref> reported that Cumbie would become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at [[Texas Christian University]] (TCU) for the 2014 season. [[Gary Patterson]] hired Cumbie hoping that he would implement the popular [[Air raid offense]] at TCU that he had run at Texas Tech. This marked a shift in philosophy as TCU had played a [[pro-style]] offense before Cumbie's arrival. The move proved to be successful as TCU was in the top 3 offensively in his first 2 seasons. Cumbie interviewed in 2016 for the [[University of Texas]] offensive coordinator job, ultimately deciding to stay at TCU when he received a pay raise that made him the highest paid offensive coordinator in the country. The offense struggled in his last two seasons as opposing teams adapted to an unchanging scheme.

===Texas Tech (second stint)===
On December 21, 2020, Cumbie was hired and returned to Texas Tech as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under head coach [[Matt Wells (American football coach)|Matt Wells]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan Jr. |first=Sam |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Texas Tech hires TCU's Sonny Cumbie as offensive coordinator |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30577599/texas-tech-set-hire-tcu-sonny-cumbie-offensive-coordinator-sources-say |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Wells was fired on October 25, 2021, with Cumbie being named the interim head coach.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[KAMC]]|last=Mayer|first=Phil|url=https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/matt-wells-fired-star-telgram-says-as-texas-tech-head-coach/|title=Matt Wells fired as Texas Tech head coach, sources say|date=October 25, 2021|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}</ref>

On November 24, 2021, Cumbie was retained as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under new head coach [[Joey McGuire]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[ESPN]]|last=Wilson|first=Dave|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32708176/texas-tech-retains-sonny-cumbie-offensive-coordinator-qb-coach-new-hc-joey-mcguire|title=Texas Tech retains Sonny Cumbie as offensive coordinator and QB coach under new HC Joey McGuire|date=November 24, 2021|accessdate=November 26, 2021}}</ref>

===Louisiana Tech===
On November 30, 2021, Cumbie was named the 34th head coach at [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech University]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[The Athletic]]|last=Olson|first=Max|url=https://theathletic.com/news/louisiana-tech-to-hire-texas-tech-offensive-coordinator-sonny-cumbie-source/Qg9bpp6wu9Qs/?amp=1|title=Louisiana Tech to hire Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie: Source|date=November 30, 2021|accessdate=November 30, 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cumbie was a color commentator for the Texas Tech Football Radio network for three seasons (2005–2008), shortly before joining the Tech coaching staff. He currently resides in Ruston, Louisiana, and is married to his wife, Tamra. Cumbie graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor's degree in history. Tamra, who is an alumna of Texas Tech, has a master's degree in technical communication. They have two children.

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech Red Raiders]]
| conf = [[Big 12 Conference]]
| startyear = 2021
| endyear = 2021
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = [[2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2021]]
| name = [[2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]]
| overall = 2–3{{efn|group=record|Cumbie took over as the interim after [[Matt Wells (American football coach)|Matt Wells]] was fired after 8 games}}
| conference = 1–3
| confstanding = 9th
| bowlname = [[2021 Liberty Bowl|Liberty]]
| bowloutcome = W
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Texas Tech
| overall = 2–3
| confrecord = 1–3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech Bulldogs]]
| conf = [[Conference USA]]
| startyear = 2022
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = [[2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2022]]
| name = [[2022 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 2–6
| confstanding = T–9th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = [[2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2023]]
| name = [[2023 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 2–6
| confstanding = T–6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = [[2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2024]]
| name = [[2024 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
| overall = 5–7
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname = [[2024 Independence Bowl|Independence]]
| bowloutcome =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Louisiana Tech
| overall = 11–25
| confrecord = 8–16
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 13–28
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
{{notelist|group=record}}

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://latechsports.com/staff-directory/sonny-cumbie/4516 Louisiana Tech profile]
* [https://texastech.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/sonny-cumbie/3606 Texas Tech profile]

{{Conference USA football coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Avengers starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Texas Tech Red Raiders football coach navbox}}
{{Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football coach navbox}}
{{NCAA major college football passing yardage leaders}}
}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumbie, Sonny}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumbie, Sonny}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Abilene, Texas]]
[[Category:American color commentators]]
[[Category:People from Scurry County, Texas]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders football players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Ravens players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Avengers players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Avengers players]]
[[Category:People from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football coaches]]
[[Category:San Angelo Stampede Express players]]
[[Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders football coaches]]
[[Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders football players]]
[[Category:TCU Horned Frogs football coaches]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Abilene, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Snyder, Texas]]
[[Category:Snyder High School (Texas) alumni]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Texas]]

Latest revision as of 21:43, 14 December 2024

Sonny Cumbie
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1981-08-08) August 8, 1981 (age 43)
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Snyder
(Snyder, Texas)
College:Texas Tech
Undrafted:2005
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • San Angelo Stampede Express (2009)
    Head coach & director of player personnel
  • Texas Tech (2009–2010)
    Graduate assistant
  • Texas Tech (2011–2012)
    Wide receivers coach
  • Texas Tech (2013)
    Co-offensive coordinator & outside receivers coach
  • TCU (2014–2016)
    Co-offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • TCU (2017–2020)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Texas Tech (2021)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Texas Tech (2021)
    Interim head coach
  • Louisiana Tech (2022–present)
    Head coach
Career Arena League statistics
TD–INT:193–38
Passing yards:10,218
Completion percentage:59.4
Passer rating:103.8
Stats at ArenaFan.com
Head coaching record
Career:NCAA: 13–28 (.317)
Bowls: 1–0 (1.000)

Sonny Jack Cumbie (born August 8, 1981) is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University, a position he has held since the 2022 season. Cumbie previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas Tech University and was the interim head coach after the departure of Matt Wells in 2021. He also served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas Christian University (TCU). Cumbie played college football at Texas Tech and was the team's starting quarterback during the 2004 season, when he led the nation in passing and total offense and a guided the Red Raiders to win in the 2004 Holiday Bowl, earning MVP honors for the game. Cumbie played professionally in the Arena Football League (AFL), the Indoor Football League (IFL), and briefly in the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

[edit]

Cumbie attended Snyder High School in Snyder, Texas, and was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, as a senior, he won first team All-District honors, Honorable Mention All-South Plains honors, and was named the District MVP He was coached by David Baugh, the son of quarterback Sammy Baugh. In basketball, he won All-District honors and All-Big Country honors. In baseball, he was named the District MVP as a senior. Cumbie graduated from Snyder High School in 2000. He received scholarship offers from Tarleton State University and West Texas A&M University. Cumbie declined them both and enrolled at Texas Tech University, about 80 miles from Snyder, and decided to accept an invitation to walk on to the football team from head coach Mike Leach.

College career

[edit]

2000–2003

[edit]

Cumbie walked on at Texas Tech, where he had enrolled as a student. Cumbie was on the scout team during the 2000 season, and earned a scholarship to be on the team prior to the 2001 season. He served as third-string quarterback behind Kliff Kingsbury and B. J. Symons during the 2001 season. Cumbie saw his first action during a 2002 win over New Mexico. He completed his first pass against Baylor University. After Kingsbury graduated, Symons was named the starter and Cumbie became the back-up. Tech blew out many opponents that year, giving Cumbie plenty of mop up time. He threw his first and only touchdown as a back-up against Baylor in a 62–0 rout in 2003. Prior to the 2004 season, he completed 40 passes out of 62 attempts for 374 yards and a touchdown with a 65.5 completion percentage.

2004

[edit]

Cumbie earned the starting spot for the 2004 season over highly recruited junior college quarterback Robert Johnson and redshirt junior Cody Hodges. Cumbie led the Raiders to 7 regular season wins over SMU (27–13), TCU (70–35), Kansas (31–30), Nebraska (70–10), Kansas State (35–25), Baylor (42–17), and Oklahoma State (31–15). The Raiders were upset by New Mexico 27–24 and lost close games to division rivals Oklahoma (28–13), an overtime loss to Texas A&M (32–25), and were also defeated by the University of Texas (51–21). The Raiders finished the regular season 7–4, with a 5–3 conference record tied for third in the Big 12 South, and were invited to play a top 5 University of California team in the Holiday Bowl. Cumbie finished the regular season as the national leader in passing yards and passing offense.

Cumbie lead #23 ranked Texas Tech to a win in the 2004 Holiday Bowl over Aaron Rodgers, who led the #4 California Golden Bears. The Raiders were huge underdogs, but Cumbie went 39–60 (65%) and a career-high 520 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Raiders to the win.[1] His performance in that game earned him M.V.P. honors. Cumbie finished the season his Senior season with 4,742 passing yards, completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 32 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions, and became the third straight Red Raider quarterback to lead the nation in passing.

Statistics

[edit]
Legend
Led the NCAA
Bold Career high
Season Team GP Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2001 Texas Tech 0 DNP
2002 Texas Tech 2 5 6 83.3 34 5.7 0 0 130.9 0 0 0.0 0
2003 Texas Tech 6 35 56 62.5 340 6.1 1 1 115.8 6 1 0.2 0
2004 Texas Tech 12 421 642 65.6 4,742 7.4 32 18 138.5 52 -167 -3.2 2
Career[2] 20 461 704 65.5 5,116 7.3 33 19 136.6 58 -166 -2.9 2

Professional career

[edit]

After completing his college career, Cumbie was not drafted in the 2005 draft but was signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts and later released. In 2006 Cumbie then joined the Los Angeles Avengers in the Arena Football League. He started 12 games his first season as a rookie, and won Rookie of the Year. Cumbie was invited back to the NFL by the Baltimore Ravens and signed a free agent contract in 2006 but was released. He returned as the Avengers starting quarterback in 2007. Playing in a total of 13 games in 2006, Cumbie completed 268-of-450 for 3,241 yards and 59 touchdowns in 2006. He also scored three touchdowns on the ground. In 2007 Cumbie led the Avengers to the playoffs while throwing for 83 touchdown passes and 4,370 yards. After the AFL folded in 2009, Cumbie joined the San Angelo Stampede of the Indoor Football League as the head coach and director of player personnel. Cumbie then became the starting quarterback for the team and led the team to the playoffs and a playoff win.

Coaching career

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Texas Tech (first stint)

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In 2009, Cumbie began his coaching career at Texas Tech as a graduate assistant under head coach Mike Leach where he was in charge of the defensive scout team and coaching the quarterbacks. In this role, he worked with quarterbacks Taylor Potts, Steven Sheffield, and Seth Doege. Cumbie served in this capacity for two seasons.

After Leach's departure, Tommy Tuberville was hired as the head coach for the team. He promoted Cumbie to inside receivers coach, a post held formerly by current University of Southern California head coach Lincoln Riley.[3] One of the receivers he coached was Eric Ward.

Following the hiring of coach Kliff Kingsbury after the subsequent departure of Tommy Tuberville from Texas Tech, Cumbie was the only assistant retained by Kingsbury. Cumbie was promoted along with Eric Morris to be co-offensive coordinator prior to the start of the 2013 season. During that season, Tech would score 465 points and win the Holiday Bowl over 16th ranked Arizona State. As a team, they threw for 5,107 yards and 35 touchdowns while running for 1,593 yards (including sacks) and 19 touchdowns.

TCU

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Stefan Stevenson[4] reported that Cumbie would become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas Christian University (TCU) for the 2014 season. Gary Patterson hired Cumbie hoping that he would implement the popular Air raid offense at TCU that he had run at Texas Tech. This marked a shift in philosophy as TCU had played a pro-style offense before Cumbie's arrival. The move proved to be successful as TCU was in the top 3 offensively in his first 2 seasons. Cumbie interviewed in 2016 for the University of Texas offensive coordinator job, ultimately deciding to stay at TCU when he received a pay raise that made him the highest paid offensive coordinator in the country. The offense struggled in his last two seasons as opposing teams adapted to an unchanging scheme.

Texas Tech (second stint)

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On December 21, 2020, Cumbie was hired and returned to Texas Tech as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under head coach Matt Wells.[5] Wells was fired on October 25, 2021, with Cumbie being named the interim head coach.[6]

On November 24, 2021, Cumbie was retained as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under new head coach Joey McGuire.[7]

Louisiana Tech

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On November 30, 2021, Cumbie was named the 34th head coach at Louisiana Tech University.[8]

Personal life

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Cumbie was a color commentator for the Texas Tech Football Radio network for three seasons (2005–2008), shortly before joining the Tech coaching staff. He currently resides in Ruston, Louisiana, and is married to his wife, Tamra. Cumbie graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor's degree in history. Tamra, who is an alumna of Texas Tech, has a master's degree in technical communication. They have two children.

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12 Conference) (2021)
2021 Texas Tech 2–3[a] 1–3 9th W Liberty
Texas Tech: 2–3 1–3
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (Conference USA) (2022–present)
2022 Louisiana Tech 3–9 2–6 T–9th
2023 Louisiana Tech 3–9 2–6 T–6th
2024 Louisiana Tech 5–7 4–4 5th Independence
Louisiana Tech: 11–25 8–16
Total: 13–28
  1. ^ Cumbie took over as the interim after Matt Wells was fired after 8 games

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "No. 4 Cal Upset By Texas Tech In Holiday Bowl, 45–31". Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  2. ^ "Sonny Cumbie College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Cumbie promoted to inside receivers coach | Red Raiders". www.redraiders.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010.
  4. ^ "The Scoop - Thursday October 28, 2021".
  5. ^ Khan Jr., Sam (December 21, 2020). "Texas Tech hires TCU's Sonny Cumbie as offensive coordinator". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Mayer, Phil (October 25, 2021). "Matt Wells fired as Texas Tech head coach, sources say". KAMC. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Wilson, Dave (November 24, 2021). "Texas Tech retains Sonny Cumbie as offensive coordinator and QB coach under new HC Joey McGuire". ESPN. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Olson, Max (November 30, 2021). "Louisiana Tech to hire Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie: Source". The Athletic. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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