Wing-T to Air Raid

From Wing-T to Air Raid: Why I Stopped Trying to Stop It and Started Running It

In my first six years coaching football, I was part of programs that ran a wide range of offensive systems — the Wing-T, the Gun-T, and what some call “America’s Offense,” a mix of gap and zone runs with various passing concepts. I served as a defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, while also coaching offensive line and linebackers.

Three years ago, we won a state championship. That year, I was both Co-Offensive Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator — on a four-man staff. It was one of the proudest moments of my career.

But last season, something changed.

The Air Raid Problem

A close friend of mine — a former college wide receiver under Coach Anderson at Arkansas State — has become a believer in the Air Raid. We played against his team this past season, and I got my first real taste of defending a true Air Raid system.

We had studied their offense. We prepared for Mesh, Y-Cross, Y-Sail. We thought we had a solid plan. But on game night, it wasn’t the pass that broke us — it was the run. We sold out to stop the pass, and got gashed in the ground game. Rookie mistake? Sure. But they still threw for over 400 yards multiple times last season.

I’ve always been a “stop the run first” defensive guy, especially in high school where most QBs are better athletes than throwers. But this offense was different. The way they stressed us horizontally, vertically, and with tempo — it exposed more than just our coverage. It exposed our whole defensive philosophy.

So I made a decision: I was going to stop trying to stop it. I was going to run it.

Learning the System

I signed up for Hal Mumme’s Air Raid Certification Course on CoachTube. I needed to understand it — not just how to defend it better, but why it worked so well.

I came out of that course with one big takeaway: There’s no perfect way to stop the Air Raid. It’s built to create space, force decisions, and put pressure on every level of the defense. So if I couldn’t beat it, maybe I should join it.

That spring, I was asked if I’d be interested in returning to my previous school. I wanted to install the Air Raid.

A Program Reboot

We’re halfway through the summer now, and we’ve followed Mumme’s installation plan as closely as possible. We made minor tweaks to terminology and structure to fit our kids and maintain some consistency, but the core philosophy remains intact: simplicity, repetition, and execution.

Our school has traditionally been a basketball school. Big on tempo. Big on space. Big on athletes. We install the Air Raid and spread the words through the halls of our small school and suddenly, athletes who hadn’t played football in years are coming back. They’re excited. And honestly? So are we.

We had only one win last season. But this summer at pad camps and 7-on-7s, we’ve seen a massive leap. At one camp, we held our own — and then some — against the defending 2A state champions. That kind of progress, in just a few months, tells me we’re on the right track.

Teaching Quarterback Play

One of the best moments of the summer came from our starting quarterback. After a practice he said, “Coach, I feel like I’ve never actually been taught how to play quarterback until now.”

That stuck with me.

The Air Raid doesn’t just teach routes. It teaches reads. It gives QBs the mental tools they need — not just in our system, but at the next level. When you look at how many NFL quarterbacks came from Air Raid backgrounds, it starts to make sense. You’re giving kids more than just a playbook — you’re giving them a way to understand the game.

Final Thoughts

If you're on the fence about the Air Raid Certification, take it from someone who once lived in the world of the Wing-T: Buy in.

The practice plan alone is worth the price. It’s fast, focused, and teaches your players how to truly understand offensive football — not just memorize it. Your quarterbacks will be smarter. Your receivers will understand spacing. Your line will get more reps than ever.

And your program? It might just get the spark it’s been missing.

Carr Hill

Offensive Coordinator

Izard County High School