Jan. 12, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After spending the past three seasons helping Neal Brown build an electric offense at Texas Tech as an assistant coach for outside receivers, Tommy Mainord has agreed to rejoin Brown as Kentucky’s wide receiver coach, head coach Mark Stoops announced Saturday.

Mainord completes the offensive coaching staff for Kentucky, joining Brown, running backs coach Chad Scott, offensive line coach John Schlarman and tight ends coach Vince Marrow. Stoops also completed his defensive staff with the hiring of Derrick Ansley as cornerbacks coach Saturday.

“Tommy brings a wealth of experience and success to our program,” Stoops said.  “Coming from a coaching family, he is well-rounded with a great depth of football knowledge.  Tommy is a true professional who is also known for his relentless work ethic.  His familiarity with our offensive system will help the players’ transition to the new offense.”

Mainord brings several years of offensive coaching success to Lexington, including the last three years with the Red Raiders. In every season in Lubbock, Mainord helped lead TTU to top-10 national rankings in passing offense, top-15 in total offense and top-25 in scoring offense. The Red Raiders increased their production in all three categories every season under Mainord, including finishing the 2012 season ranked second in passing offense (355.9 yards per game), 13th in total offense (495.8 ypg) and 20th in scoring offense (37.5 points per game).

Mainord coached two of the best receivers in college football in 2012, helping Darrin Moore and Eric Ward each finish the season ranked in the top 20 nationally in receptions per game. Moore finished 12th with 92 catches for 1,032 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Ward was 19th with 82 catches for 1,053 yards and 12 TDs.

The success that Mainord’s wide receivers had in 2012 was spurred off the solid season the Red Raider offense posted in 2011 when they finished seventh in passing offense, racking up 4,145 passing yards. In all, 13 different receivers made 10 or more catches in 2011. Mainord’s squad also performed well in his first season, including Lyle Leong, who ranked second nationally with 19 touchdown catches that season.

“I’m eager for the opportunity to work with Coach Stoops,” Mainord said.  “I have great respect for his accomplishments and I had heard all the excitement in Kentucky about his hiring.  Getting to work with Neal Brown again made it even more attractive to come to UK.”

Before his stint in Lubbock, Mainord was named the offensive coordinator at Lamar in Sept. 2008 as the Cardinals’ program began preparation to return to the field in 2010 after being dormant for more than 20 years.

Mainord spent a decade coaching in the Football Championship Subdivision and NCAA Division II before accepting the Lamar job. He had a three-year stint at Sam Houston State, spending three seasons as an assistant coach for wide receivers or running backs and one season as the co-offensive coordinator. In his year as the co-coordinator, the team finished 2007 ranked 16th in the country in passing offense and 21st in total offense.

Mainord tutored several talented players while with the Bearkats, including D.D. Terry, who rushed for a school-record 1,328 yards to rank seventh in the FCS and pace the Southland Conference. Terry was honored as the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was one of 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the Division I FCS Offensive Player of the Year.  

Mainord cut his teeth in coaching at his alma mater, spending six seasons at Tarleton State. Mainord began his coaching career as a student assistant in 1999, followed by two years as a graduate assistant from 2000-01, helping the team to the Lone Star Conference Championship in `01 with a 10-3 record. The Texans also won the LSC North Division Title in 2002 and 2003.

Tarleton State had a solid offensive season in 2004 while Mainord was coaching quarterbacks and running backs. Derrick Ross, who earned NCAA Division II honorable mention All-America honors and was an NCAA All-Region and All-Lone Star Conference first-team selection. Ross gained 1,560 yards in 10 games for the Texans, which was the best rushing total by an LSC back in 14 seasons. Mainord also produced two more All-LSC backs in 2003 in Joe Morrison and Carl Steward.

The Texans also had a great offensive season in 2001, gathering 1,773 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns on the ground en route to a top-10 national ranking and advancing to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. In 2000, Mainord’s running backs gained more than 1,675 yards.

Mainord played baseball at TSU before joining the football program as a student assistant coach. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health and sports science in 2000 and his master’s degree in education in 2001.

Mainord grew up with the game of football as his father, Carlos, was a National Football League coach with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams and also coached in college at Texas Tech, Miami (Fla.) and Rice.  

Mainord and his wife, Tiffany, have a daughter, Maecee, and a son, Davis.

Mainord’s Coaching History