He was the head football coach at Abilene Christian College and Simmons University.

[3][4] During his time at Abilene Christian, Sam Cox of Ozona, Texas, sent him a young wildcat named Bob Thomas to serve as a live athletics mascot for the college.

[6] Payne coached the Simmons Cowboys football team to 6–1–3 in 1926.

[8] Payne coached the Texas Tech Matadors (now known as the Red Raiders) from 1927 to 1930.

[10] Payne's overall record at Texas Tech stands at 32 wins and 20 losses.