Curley Hallman

Hudson "Curley" Hallman (born September 3, 1947) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi (1988–1990) and Louisiana State University (1991–1994), compiling a career record of 39–39.

Early years
Growing up near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Hallman aspired to play for Alabama under head coach Bear Bryant. Alabama did not recruit him, although Gene Stallings at Texas A&M did. He played on the Aggies' 1967 squad, which garnered a Southwest Conference championship and a Cotton Bowl Classic win. In the bowl game, Hallman intercepted two passes by Alabama quarterback Ken Stabler. Hallman graduated from the school in 1970.

As an assistant coach, Hallman served four seasons (1973–1976) under Bear Bryant at Alabama, and six seasons (1982–1987) under Jackie Sherrill at his alma mater coaching the defensive backs of the famed Wrecking Crew before being offered a head coaching position at Southern Miss. He coached linebackers (1979–1980) and defensive backs (1981) at Clemson University under Danny Ford.

Southern Miss
In 1987, Hallman became the head coach at Southern Miss, where he proceeded to compile the highest winning percentage in school history with the help of future NFL star quarterback, Brett Favre.

Hallman coached the Golden Eagles to a 23–11 record in three seasons. In his first year, he guided the team to a 1988 Independence Bowl victory over the UTEP Miners. Over the next two seasons, Southern Miss gained a reputation as "giant killers", thanks to victories over national powers such as Florida State and Alabama, all on the road.

LSU
On November 28, 1990, Hallman was hired to coach the LSU Tigers. During four seasons in Baton Rouge, he compiled the lowest winning percentage (min. 10 games) in school history at .364. His overall record was 16–28.

During Hallman's first season in 1991, several of Hallman's football players were accused of instigating a fight with LSU men's basketball players, including All-American Shaquille O'Neal, in Broussard Hall, LSU's athletic dormitory, two days prior to the Tigers' contest with Mississippi State. LSU started the 1991 season with one-sided losses to Georgia (31–10) and Hallman's alma mater, Texas A&M (45–7), and finished 5–6. The season marked the second time LSU suffered three consecutive losing seasons and the first time since 1954 to 1956.

The 1992 season included being shut out 32–0 by Ole Miss on Halloween, and beaten 30–6 at Arkansas in the season finale, which was the first meeting between the Tigers and the Razorbacks upon Arkansas joining the SEC. The Tigers finished 2–9, still the worst in school history.

In 1993, LSU's centennial football season, the Tigers lost 58–3 to the Florida Gators in Tiger Stadium, the worst loss in school history. Amazingly, just four weeks after that, the Tigers stunned the Alabama Crimson Tide, 17–13, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, ending the Tide's 31-game unbeaten streak. LSU entered the season finale at 5–5, with a chance at its first bowl bid since the end of the 1988 season. However, the Tigers gave up 412 yards rushing in a 42–24 loss to Arkansas at home.

The beginning of the end for Hallman came on September 17, 1994 at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Auburn. LSU led 23–9 early in the fourth quarter, and the Bayou Bengals were in good position to end Auburn's 13-game winning streak. But LSU quarterback Jamie Howard threw two interceptions that were returned for Auburn touchdowns, tying the game. LSU regained the lead with a field goal, but when the Bayou Bengals were trying to run out the clock, Howard threw his fifth interception of the game, and incredibly, Auburn returned the pick for another touchdown, giving the home team a 30–26 lead. LSU drove into Auburn territory in the game's waning seconds, but Howard's sixth interception sealed the win for Auburn.

Three days after a 20–18 loss to Southern Miss in front of a half-empty Death Valley, LSU athletic director Joe Dean fired Hallman after he refused to resign.

Later years
Hallman continued working at the college level as a position coach and coordinator for another decade, with stops at SEC schools Alabama and Mississippi State. From 2004 to 2007, he served as head coach at Muscle Shoals High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. His first season at Muscle Shoals resulted in a 3–7 record. At the conclusion of the 2007 regular season, the Muscle Shoals Trojans had compiled another dismal 4–6 record, their fourth straight losing season under Hallman. On January 14, 2008, the Muscle Shoals Board of Education accepted Hallman's resignation as head coach. He was replaced by Cordova High School's former head coach Scott Basden.

Hallman is married to Alabama State Senator Tammy Irons of Florence.

Head coaching record

 * All-American Bowl coached by Jeff Bower