Posted: Apr 08, 2011
(Story courtesy of Sewanee: University of the South)
SEWANEE, Tenn. - Tommy Laurendine has been named the head football coach at Sewanee: The University of the South according to Athletics Director, Mark Webb. Laurendine will be the 30th head coach in the program’s storied history.
“After an extensive search process, I am pleased that
Oak Ridge native Tommy Laurendine has accepted the position of head
football coach at the University of the South,” said
Webb.
An Oak Ridge, Tennessee native, Laurendine comes to Sewanee
from The Citadel, where he has served as the offensive coordinator
since 2010. During his time at The Citadel, Laurendine coached the
quarterbacks and fullbacks in addition to his coordinating
responsibilities.
Laurendine previously served as the offensive coordinator,
quarterbacks, and fullbacks coach at NCAA Division II Lenoir-Rhyne
College for two seasons. In 2008, his offense improved by more than
126 yards per game and finished the season ranked fifth in Division
II in rushing, averaging 295.3 yards per contest. In 2009,
Laurendine and the Bears improved to 294.3 rushing yards per game,
finishing the year with the second best rushing average in Division
II.
Prior to his stint at Lenoir-Rhyne, Laurendine served as the
offensive coordinator at Washington & Lee University in 2007.
During his time with the Generals, he coached quarterbacks and wide
receivers. Laurendine also served as the Generals’ offensive
coordinator from 1995-1997, while coaching quarterbacks and wide
receivers and assisting with the track and field team.
From 2001-2006, Laurendine was the assistant head coach and
offensive coordinator at Southern Arkansas University. While at
Southern Arkansas, Laurendine’s offenses set a combined 18
school records and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs
in 2003. The 2005 squad broke records for total offense (4,677),
rushing attempts (630), first downs (250), touchdowns (44), rushing
offense (296.4 ypg), total offense (425.2 ypg), scoring offense
(29.7 points per game), and single game yardage (615). He also
spent the 2000 season as SAU’s assistant head coach,
offensive line coach, and team academic coordinator.
Laurendine also had coaching stops at the University of West
Alabama (1997-2000), Northwest Whitfield High School (1994-95), and
West Georgia College (1991-94) as a graduate assistant.
“An outstanding recruiter, Coach Laurendine brings to
the post tremendous enthusiasm, an exceptional skill set, and a
genuine desire to lead Sewanee’s storied football
program,” said Webb.
Laurendine is a 1990 graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne, having earned a
bachelor of arts in education. While at L-R, he was a two-year
starter at quarterback and was named the 1988 and 1989 South
Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was a 1989
Domino’s NAIA Player of the Year Finalist. Laurendine was
team captain in 1989 and led the Bears to a conference championship
in 1988.
A two-year letter winner, he was inducted into the L-R Hall of
Fame in 2008 and the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in
2008. He holds school records in career completion percentage
(58.3), single-season total yards (2,409), and career total yards
(4,064).
Laurendine began his coaching career as a student assistant
coach at Lenoir-Rhyne from 1990-1991, before earning his
master’s degree in physical education from West Georgia
College in 1992.
“First of all, I have to thank Mark Webb, Vice
Chancellor John McCardell, and Provost Linda Lankewicz for handling
this search with such professionalism and giving me the opportunity
to become Sewanee’s 30th head football coach. I am so
thrilled to getting an opportunity to move back to my home state of
Tennessee and am ready to get to the Mountain,” remarked
Laurendine. “I know that overseeing this program will be a
lot of fun. We are going to be building something and in the
process, building lifelong memories for these young men. I
can’t say enough how excited I am.”
“Growing up in Tennessee, you hear a lot about Sewanee
and it’s tradition. I hope to put us on a winning track and
make these kids proud. Getting a good education at Sewanee is a
given. Good memories on the football field come hand-in-hand with
winning and that’s something we want to create soon. We are
in a building process and it’s not going to happen overnight,
but if the players buy in, we will reap the rewards in the near
future, “ he said. “I’m so excited to get
to the Mountain, get a few spring practices under our belt, install
our new system, and get prepared for August.”
He and his wife Shawna have two daughters, Alexa, 11 and
Lakin, 6.
.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=139&crop=true)
.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=139&crop=true)
