Texas Tech Hires Tommerdahl as Associate Head Coach

Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells announced the hiring of veteran special teams coordinator Mark Tommerdahl to his coaching staff Friday afternoon. Tommerdahl will serve as associate head coach and coordinate the Red Raider special teams while assisting with the offensive line.

Tommerdahl, who arrives in Lubbock after spending the 2018 season at Purdue, brings an extensive background at the collegiate level with over 30 years of experience, including 23 as a special teams coordinator. His previous stops include the likes of TCU (1998-00), Alabama (2001-02), Texas A&M (2003-07) and California (2013-16) among others.

This will be Tommerdahl’s second stint working under Wells as he was previously the special teams coordinator and running backs coach at Utah State in 2017. The Aggies played in the Arizona Bowl during his lone season, one of 15 postseason appearances for Tommerdahl over his career, which also includes six conference championships.

Tommerdahl’s special teams units played a significant role in Purdue’s success this past season, namely in the return game with true freshman Rondale Moore, the 2018 recipient for the Paul Hornung Award that is presented to the nation’s most versatile player. Moore was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a first team all-conference pick.

Moore, a standout in the return game and through the air, snapped the Purdue single-season record for all-purpose yards and ranked fourth nationally in the category en route to joining the likes of Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Odell Beckham Jr. as Paul Hornung Award winners. He combined for 744 yards on kick returns alone.

In Tommerdahl’s lone season at Utah State, the Aggies led the Mountain West and ranked fourth nationally with four blocked punts, their most since the 2012 campaign. Utah State was also among the top-25 teams nationally for kick return defense, finishing 21st in the FBS after allowing only 18.1 yards per return.

Wells added Tommerdahl to his Utah State staff after four seasons at California, the final two of which were spent as the assistant head coach. Tommerdahl coordinated the special teams efforts throughout his tenure in Berkeley and also worked with Cal’s tight ends and fullbacks in 2014 and its wide receivers in 2013.

The Golden Bears led the Pac-12 and ranked 14th nationally in kick return defense during Tommerdahl’s final season after limiting opponents to only 18.0 yards per return. Dylan Kiumph was also among the nation’s top punters that year after closing the 2016 campaign ranked eighth in the FBS with a 44.8 yards per punt average.

That same season, kicker Matt Anderson broke the Cal school record with 117 points on his way to being named a semifinalist for the prestigious Lou Groza Award. Anderson matched the school record with 22 field goals, including a record-tying five against UCLA. He connected on 84.6 percent of his field goal attempts, finding the uprights on 22 of his 26 kicks.

Cal blocked three punts during the 2015 season en route to an 8-5 record, its first eight-win season since 2009. The Golden Bears, who ranked second nationally in blocked punts as well as punt returns allowed (6) and punt return yards allowed (62), ended the season with a 55-36 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl, their first bowl win since 2008. It was Cal’s first postseason appearance since 2011.

Trevor Davis became one of the most explosive players in the country under Tommerdahl’s guidance in 2014, earning first team All-Pac 12 honors after averaging a school record 32.6 yards per kick return. Davis, who ranked second nationally for kick return average, became only the 20th player in FBS history to return two kickoffs for a touchdown as he found the end zone from 100 and 98 yards out at Washington State.

Prior to his arrival at Cal, Tommerdahl coached one of the top punters in NCAA history at Louisiana Tech in two-time Ray Guy Award winner Ryan Allen, who became the first player to claim the accolade in consecutive seasons (2011-12) and only the second two-time recipient. Allen, now a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, earned first team All-America honors both of those seasons, including unanimous recognition in 2012.

Tommerdahl also mentored tight end Dennis Morris to All-America honors during his first season in 2009. Morris garnered third team accolades byCollege Football News and was an honorable mention pick by Sports Illustrated after hauling in 38 passes for 623 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving touchdowns led all tight ends nationally that year.

Tommerdahl moved to Louisiana Tech from cross-state program Louisiana-Monroe in 2008 where he stayed one season as the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. Before that, he spent five seasons at then-Big 12 rival Texas A&M where he also oversaw the Aggies’ special teams and tight ends.

Ten-year NFL veteran Martellus Bennett developed into a NFL Draft second round selection while with the Aggies as he end his career as the program’s all-time leader for both receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. Bennett and punter Justin Brantly both earned Freshman All-America accolades in 2005 under Tommerdahl, who was part of three bowl trips during his Texas A&M tenure.

Tommerdahl was also the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in similar stops at Alabama, TCU, New Mexico (1997) and Minnesota (1995-96). Alabama claimed the 2002 SEC West Division title during his final season in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide closed the year at No. 11 in the final Associated Press poll. TCU, meanwhile, won a pair of WAC titles over the 1999-2000 seasons, both of which ended in trips to the Mobile Bowl.

A native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Tommerdahl began his coaching career in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Wyoming. He spent a total of 11 seasons in various capacities with the Cowboys, helping Wyoming to four bowl appearances and three WAC titles during that time.

Tommerdahl earned his bachelor’s degree in business and physical education from Concordia College in Minnesota and a MBA with an emphasis in marketing from Wyoming in 1986. He is married to the former Annette Jondahl, who holds a doctorate degree in counseling education with an emphasis in university administration.

Tommerdahl replaces Joe Lorig, who departed the Tech staff this week to accept another collegiate coaching position.

MARK TOMMERDAHL COACHING EXPERIENCE

2019-Present – Texas Tech Associate Head Coach (Special Teams/Assistant Offensive Line)

2018 – Purdue Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Tight Ends)

2017 – Utah State Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Running Backs)

2015-16 – Cal Assistant Head Coach (Special Teams)

2014 – Cal Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Tight Ends/Fullbacks)

2013 – Cal Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Wide Receivers)

2010-12 – Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Wide Receivers)

2009 – Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Tight Ends)

2008 – Louisiana-Monroe Assistant Head Coach (Special Teams/Tight Ends)

2003-07 – Texas A&M Assistant Coach (Special Teams/Tight Ends)