McMurry University named Lance Hinson as the War Hawks’ head football coach on May 9, 2014. Hinson came to Abilene after spending nine seasons as the head coach at The University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kan.
Hinson – a native of Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall High School) and graduate of the University of North Texas – is the 22nd head football coach in school history.
The 2017 campaign saw the War Hawks finish the season at 2-8 overall. Four McM players - Jordan Washington, Justin Eaton, Jacob Ferguson and Josh Smith - were all honored by the American Southwest Conference with post-season awards (Smith also being recognized as the Freshman of the Year).
In 2016, the War Hawks went 4-5 and earned several post-season honors. Among them, junior DB Jordan Washington setting ASC records for interception return yards in a game and season, on his way to all-ASC honors (in all, four players received ASC accolades). DB Decorian Johnson received an invitation to rookie mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
A young 2015 McM squad compiled a record of 4-6. The War Hawks dropped three games by a field goal or less and with a differential of 11 total points for four losses.
In his first McMurry campaign in 2014 - playing an NCAA II schedule as a member of the Lone Star Conference - the War Hawks went 2-8 overall. However, the McM squad scored a season-opening win over NCAA Division I Houston Baptist for Hinson's first win at the McMurry helm. Senior receiver Jeret Smith also broke the school record for receiving yards and drew attention from NFL scouts.
Hinson had been the head coach at USM since 2005 and, prior to that, was an assistant with the school from 2002 through 2004. He joined the program during its embryonic years – in just the third season of the program’s existence – and has been the architect in building it into a well-respected team.
In his first season as head coach with USM, Hinson was named Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) “Co-Coach of the Year,” leading the Spires to the team’s first ever four-game winning streak and a 5-5 record. The 2005 season featured a defense that posted three shutouts and finished nationally ranked in the top-10 of eight different categories. Hinson received his second KCAC “Co-Coach of the Year” following the Spires’ 2011 season, posting a 7-2 conference record, finishing second in the KCAC.
Hinson’s coaching career began in the state of Texas, as an undergraduate - and eventually graduate - assistant at the University of North Texas in 1993. He was responsible for defensive ends and linebackers. The 1994 UNT squad went 8-2-1 and earned the Southland Conference Championship, as well as a berth in the NCAA Division 1-AA playoffs
From 1997-2001, Hinson was an assistant at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. At Baker, Hinson coached tight ends, quarterbacks, and wide receivers. The 2000 season at Baker ended with the Wildcats going 9-2 and winning the KWTO Bowl over Campbellsville (Ky.) and finishing No. 15 in the nation for the NAIA.
Hinson earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas (1996), as well as a master’s from Baker University in 2000. Hinson has three children, son Jake (a high school football coach in Kansas City), daughter Holly (a senior at McM) and Lily. Hinson and his wife Andi reside in Abilene.
