Tommy Mainord joined the Mean Green prior to the 2016 season as the inside wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Ahead of the 2019 season, Mainord was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
North Texas' offense continued its strong resurgence in 2018, as the Mean Green averaged 34.6 points per game, which ranked 27th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Quarterback Mason Fine took home Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, throwing for 3,793 yards, 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Fine will enter 2019 as the nation's leading returning passer (FBS) and already holds 11 program records heading into his senior season. Inside receivers Jaelon Darden (48 catches for 575 yards and four scores) and Michael Lawrence (32 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns) also had productive seasons for North Texas.
In 2017, The Mean Green showed marked improvement offensively again, improving their points per game average by 10.7 ppg (35.5). Fine also took a major leap forward in his second season, becoming the first Mean Green signal-caller to eclipse 4,000 yards passing in a season (4,052) and the first to throw for 30 or more touchdowns (31). Fine was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference performer. The Mean Green offense helped lift UNT to a nine-win season and appearances in both the Conference USA Championship Game and R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Lawrence had a breakout sophomore season, leading the Mean Green with 62 catches for 819 yards and four touchdowns on his way to all-conference honorable mention status. Darden also turned in a productive freshman season, catching 32 passes for 281 yards and three scores.
In 2016, his first in Denton, he coached the team's leading receiver, Thaddeous Thompson, who hauled in 43 passes for 545 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 12.7 yards per catch. Thompson caught just seven passes for 64 yards as a junior in 2015.
Mainord, who spent his previous three seasons at Kentucky, has deep Texas ties having coached at Texas Tech, Lamar, Sam Houston State and Tarleton State.
In 2015 at Kentucky, Mainord coached Dorian Baker and Garrett Johnson who ended the season combining for 101 catches, 1,302 yards receiving and five touchdowns. The pair both averaged over 10 yards a catch.
Mainord brought several years of offensive coaching success to Lexington, including 2010-12 with Texas Tech. In every season in Lubbock, Mainord helped lead Texas Tech 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. Darrin Moore finished 12th nationally in receptions per game with 92 catches for 1,032 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Eric Ward was 19th with 82 catches for 1,053 yards and 12 TDs.
The success in 2012 was spurred off the solid season the Red Raider offense posted in 2011, when TTU finished seventh in passing offense, racking up 4,145 passing yards. Mainord’s squad also performed well in his first season, including Lyle Leong, who ranked second nationally with 19 touchdown catches.
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 had a three-year stint at Sam Houston State in 2005-07, spending three seasons as an assistant coach for wide receivers and running backs. In 2007, SHSU ranked 16th in the country in passing offense and 21st in total offense. Following the ’07 season, Mainord was promoted to co-offensive coordinator but he departed before the next season began.
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 Football Championship Subdivision 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 began his coaching career 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.
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.
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 and his wife, Tiffany, have a daughter, Maecee, and a son, Davis.