The post-National Signing Day coaching movement frenzy has started a little early this year.
Kentucky announced the addition of wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas on Tuesday evening, a name that should be familiar to Wildcats fans. Thomas spent the two previous seasons in a similar capacity at Louisville.
“I’ve known Lamar since my time at Miami and have always thought highly of him,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said in a statement. “The competitiveness Lamar showed as a player has translated into his work ethic as a coach. I’ve followed his career and been impressed with how his players play and how he handles himself on the recruiting trail. We’re excited to have him on our staff.”
Thomas also has coaching experience at Western Kentucky and Hampton, plus an eight-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins from which to draw. Current Dolphin DeVante Parker counts among Thomas’ pupils.
“There are a lot of good things going on in the Kentucky football program and the opportunity came up for me to be a part of it and I couldn’t pass it up,” Thomas said. “I’ve known Coach Stoops a long time. He used to visit the high school I worked for in Florida when he recruited for Florida State and he’s always been a stand-up person and a person I really like and admire. I like how he runs his program and what he stands for. I look forward to coaching in the SEC and I also look forward to coaching the receivers at UK. I can’t wait.”
Thomas made $203,000 in 2015 according to the USA Today salary database. The coach he replaces, Tommy Mainord, made just north of $275,000.