January 3, 2008

Lenoir-Rhyne Football Names Tommy Laurendine Offensive Coordinator

Laurendine was the 1988 and 1989 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player Of The Year as Bears’ quarterback

Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne College Football Team has hired Tommy Laurendine as its Offensive Coordinator, Head Football Coach Fred Goldsmith announced today.

Laurendine comes to L-R after spending one season as Offensive Coordinator at Washington & Lee (2007). Prior to W&L, Laurendine was Offensive Coordinator at West Georgia (2006) and Assistant Head Football Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Southern Arkansas (2001-05).

While at SAU, Laurendine’s offenses established 18 school records and the 2003 squad earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs and was ranked No. 11 in the nation.

Laurendine had prior coaching stints at Washington & Lee (1995-97) and West Georgia (1991-93) as a graduate assistant and started his career as a student assistant for L-R in 1990.

Laurendine, a two-year letterwinner as quarterback for the Bears, was named the 1988 and 1989 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player Of The Year and finished his L-R career with 4,064 yards passing and 29 touchdown passes. Laurendine’s 58.3 career completion percentage and 2,409 yards of total offense in a single season (1989) are Lenoir-Rhyne records.

Laurendine, a team captain in 1989, led Lenoir-Rhyne to the league championship in 1988 and was inducted into the South Atlantic Conference Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Laurendine graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in education and received his master’s degree in physical education in 1992 from West Georgia.