We have all heard about recruits “flipping” schools just before signing day but Mark Stoops may have pulled off a new one in the last 24 hours by “flipping” a coach. Lamar Thomas, the wide receivers coach at the University of Louisville is leaving just one day before signing day and joining Mark Stoops’ staff at Kentucky. The story was first reported by Kentucky Sports Radio on Monday.
Thomas will replace Chad Scott who was moved from running backs coach to receivers coach for this season and left to return to North Carolina where he had coached previously.
Lamar Thomas Leaves Louisville for Kentucky
Scott replaced Tommy Mainord who was let go along with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson after a disappointing end to the 2015 season in which the Cats failed to make a bowl game for a second straight year after collapsing down the stretch.
Dropped passes by receivers were a constant problem this past season and the hope is Thomas along with new offensive coordinators Eddie Gran and Darrin Hinshaw can fix that problem.
Thomas played college football at the University of Miami and was the school’s all-time leading receiver when he left school. After playing eight years in the NFL, Thomas became a broadcaster for the “U” but was let go after some controversial comments after the fight between Florida International and Miami back in 2006.
Thomas joined UL Coach Bobby Petrino’s staff in 2014 and previously worked with Petrino at Western Kentucky. He is seen as one of the better recruiters in college football. Most notably he brought in Lamar Jackson, last seen running through the Kentucky defense and Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl.
Thomas’ hiring should bring some immediate impact in recruiting and should help the Cats get into the vast South Florida talent pool to get players.
Photo by Mark Blankenbaker, Getty Images Sport
