[Letterhead of VedderPrice]




                                                                  April 23, 2002


Horace Mann Mutual Funds
One Horace Mann Plaza
Springfield, IL 62715

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 being filed by Horace
Mann Mutual Funds, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with
the public offering from time to time of units of beneficial interest, no par
value ("Shares") in the Equity Fund, Balanced Fund, Income Fund, Short-Term
Investment Fund, Small Cap Growth Fund, International Equity Fund and Socially
Responsible Fund (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds").

     We are familiar with the Trust's organization and have counseled the Trust
regarding various legal matters. We have examined such Trust records and other
documents and certificates as we have considered necessary or appropriate for
the purposes of this opinion. In our examination of such materials, we have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to original
documents of all copies submitted to us.

     Based upon the foregoing, and assuming that the Trust's Declaration of
Trust dated November 7, 1996, the Written Instrument Establishing and
Designating Growth Fund, Balanced Fund, Income Fund and Short-Term Investment
Fund dated February 6, 1997, and the By-Laws of the Fund adopted December 20,
1996 are presently in full force and effect and have not been amended in any
respect and that the resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust
on December 20, 1996, February 6, 1997 and February 3, 2000 and the Written
Consent dated March 10, 1997 relating to organizational matters, securities
matters and the issuance of shares are presently in full force and effect and
have not been amended in any respect, we advise you and opine that (a) the Trust
is a validly existing voluntary association with transferable shares under the
laws of the State of Delaware and is authorized to issue an unlimited number of
Shares in the Funds; and (b) presently and upon such further issuance of the
Shares in accordance with the Trust's Declaration of Trust and the receipt by
the Trust of a purchase price not less than the net asset value per Share and
when the pertinent provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and such "blue sky"
and securities laws as may be applicable have been complied with, and assuming



































that the Trust continues to validly exist as provided in (a) above, the Shares
are and will be legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.

         This opinion is solely for the benefit of the Trust, the Trust's Board
of Trustees and the Trust's officers and may not be relied upon by any other
person without our prior written consent. We hereby consent to the use of this
opinion in connection with said Post-Effective Amendment.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz

                                           VEDDER, PRICE, KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ

COK/DAS

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