RECRUITING AREA: Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Copiah-Lincoln CC, Southwest MS CC
Tommy Laurendine joined the Mississippi College football staff in the spring of 2018 after a six-year stint as the head coach at Sewanee, a Division III school in East Tennessee. Prior to that, he served as the offensive coordinator at The Citadel (2010) after spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne, a Division II school
The 2018 offense took a big turn in 2018, improving their scoring (25.1 ppg) by over 10 points and total yardage (363.9 ypg) by nearly 100 yards from 2017. The Choctaws scored 30 or more points on four occasions and scored 33 touchdowns after scoring just 14 in 2017. Quarterback Detric Hawthorn was a First Team All-GSC selection, while offensive lineman Cordell Birge and running back Tiberias Lampkin earned Second Team honors.
The Oak Ridge, Tenn. native worked in the GSC in the early 2000's, serving as the assistant head coach at Southern Arkansas from 2000-06, including teaming up with head coach John Bland for the 2000 season.
His 2005 Mulerider team broke school 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).
Laurendine also had Gulf South Conference coaching stops at West Alabama (1997-2000) and West Georgia (1992).
"I'm excited to work for a good friend of mine again in John (Bland)," Laurendine said. "He is a great football coach but an even better person and man of integrity. He is the kind of person I want to work for."
Coach Laurendine's wife Shawna was hired as the school's volleyball coach in the spring of 2018, as well.. She comes to MC after leading the Sewanee volleyball program and also has stops at Southern Arkansas and West Alabama.
"We feel very fortunate that both of these opportunities came about at the same time," said Laurendine. "We are ready to get down to Clinton and get to work."
