A few weeks ago, billionaire Mike Repole announced his new ownership role with the UFL and his belief that rebranding could help the league. As part of the announcement, the UFL will relocate three teams to new markets: Orlando, Louisville, and Columbus. He also shared new team names, arguing that smaller stadiums would better suit their fan base.
While shrinking stadium size for those teams will alter the visual atmosphere of UFL games, it does not guarantee an increase in fan engagement. Fan engagement depends on more than just stadium size; factors such as the quality of play and connections with the local community are also crucial. Improving the on-field product is necessary if the UFL wants to demonstrate its seriousness as a legitimate pro football league. That starts with strong team leadership, and the Orlando Storm has an opportunity to hire a coach who can inspire the city of Orlando.
The first significant step for these new UFL markets is to give the fan base something to get excited about as teams begin building their front office, coaching staff, and roster. For the Orlando Storm, hiring a head football coach who has an established reputation for being a lightning rod and generating attention. While it could be easy to say that a big-time head coach would not be interested in a head coaching job in the UFL, there are some available candidates who are looking to prove themselves once again and have had involvement with the last several spring football league initiatives.
The Orlando Storm should prioritize making a splash hire at the head coach position. This would set the team apart from a league focused on developing future talent. Choosing the right head coach could elevate the UFL from a struggling product to a household name with staying power. Hiring the right head coach is arguably more crucial than signing players, as it will likely be the key factor in attracting top talent to the Orlando Storm for the 2026 season.
Splash Candidate #1: Jon Gruden
The most polarizing and attention-grabbing head coach that the Orlando Storm could hire is former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. The Gruden family has a direct link to the Orlando-area due to the success of Jon’s brother Jay Gruden with the Orlando Predators of the original Arena Football League. Gruden has served as a head coach for the Oakland Raiders (1998-2001), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-2008), and the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2018-2021).
During his last stint with the Raiders, Gruden found himself being black-balled by the NFL due to emails to his brother Jay Gruden that involved racist comments while Jay was the head coach of the Washington Redskins. Since then Jon Gruden has stayed connected to pro football as a consultant for the New Orleans Saints in 2023, an advisor for the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football, and his YouTube channel. Gruden has mentioned his desire to be a head football coach once again, and building a UFL championship team in Orlando would be a huge rebound for his coaching career.
Splash Candidate #2: June Jones
Another head coaching candidate who could make the Orlando Storm a magnet for hungry football fans is the current “Master of the Run and Shoot Offense,” June Jones. During his long coaching career, Jones has spent time as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Gamblers and Denver Gold in the original USFL. Jones has also had two stints in the CFL when he coached for the defunct Ottawa Roughriders in 1986 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2017. In 2023, Jones was the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL, and he also spent time as a head coach in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons (1994-1996) and as an interim coach for the San Diego Chargers.
Jones is well-known for his wide-open brand of the run-and-shoot offense. Up until June 2023, Jones was coming off a successful season with the Seattle Sea Dragons that resulted in quarterback Ben DiNucci getting another opportunity in the NFL. In June, Jones found himself blackballed by the football world after he was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) following an incident in Hawaii.
Drinking isn’t taboo in pro football, with many sponsors being beer companies, and even Dewayne Johnson marketing tequila during UFL games. The solution is to hire June Jones and give him freedom to build the UFL’s most exciting offense. To minimize the risk of another DUI, the UFL should provide Jones with a pre-paid Uber account, allowing him to focus on his job in Orlando without the need to drive.
Splash Candidate #3: Hal Mumme
Another classic big-name head coach the Orlando Storm could consider is Hal Mumme, known as the “Father of the Air Raid” offense. Like June Jones, Mumme has established himself as a true innovator in the world of college and professional football. Similar to Jones, Mumme has experience with recent spring football leagues, including being the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Renegades in the XFL in 2020, and he helped lead the Lineman to a championship in The Spring League in 2021.
Mumme would provide the Orlando Storm with an exciting offensive system in the UFL in 2026. Additionally, Mumme’s son, Matt Mumme, is currently the offensive coordinator at Colorado State, and it is likely that he would welcome the opportunity to coach alongside his father. This scenario would establish the Mumme family as a legacy within the Orlando franchise, creating a pathway for Matt Mumme to potentially become head coach after his father chooses to retire. To further attract Hal Mumme to the head coach position, the UFL should consider including a bourbon allowance and an Uber transportation stipend as part of his contract.
Splash Candidate #4: Mike Riley
A traditional, family-friendly head coach candidate for the Orlando Storm is Mike Riley, former head coach of the New Jersey Generals. Like the other candidates, Riley has extensive experience as a head coach in the CFL, NFL, and USFL. He has also led successful programs at Oregon State University (1997-1998) and the University of Nebraska (2015-2017).
Riley also has recent success while serving as head coach of the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football and for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. In 2022, Riley led the Generals to a 9-1 record and a division championship while serving as the general manager and head coach. If Riley could fill a similar role for the Storm, they would likely have an outstanding inaugural season in 2026.
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4 Comments
by Ken Granito
Has there been confirmation of which teams are which yet?
by King Bomp
Yes
by Minh Dang
No….why is this league so damn allergic to hiring younger coaches?
by Johnny the Angry Fuzzball
Because old, proven coaches are plentiful and can give the league credibility and recognition for a more affordable price than old players. And like the players, most of the ones on an NFL coaching track are already in the NFL as assistants.
The XFL tried hiring newer coaches. Other than Becht, they flopped, and even Becht might well have hit his limit as to how far he can take the Battlehawks.