If You Denton Know Tommy Mainord, now you do.

Coach Tommy Mainord returns to the University of North Texas in a brand new role, stepping off the football field and into one of the most talked about positions in college athletics. After more than a decade in Denton and a career that took him from Tarleton State to Texas Tech, Kentucky, and back to UNT, Tommy now serves as Senior Associate Athletic Director for NIL and Football Strategy.

In this conversation, Tommy breaks down the rapidly changing landscape of college sports, including NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal. He explains how UNT is building its strategy in real time, why local businesses and alumni play such a vital role, and how the success of Mean Green athletics ripples out to lift restaurants, hotels, and the entire Denton community. It is a candid look at where college football is headed and how Denton fits into the bigger picture.

Guest Bio

Tommy Mainord is the Senior Associate Athletic Director for NIL and Football Strategy at the University of North Texas. A Texas native who grew up around the game as the son of a longtime football coach, Tommy spent seven years as an assistant coach at UNT, helping develop standout players like All American Jaylen Darden. He has coached at Tarleton State, Sam Houston State, Lamar, Texas Tech, and Kentucky throughout his career.

Key Topics Covered

• Tommy's journey from coaches' kid to college coach
• Coaching stops across Texas, Kentucky, and the Big 12
• Returning to UNT in a new front office role
• The difference between NIL and revenue sharing explained
• The 21.4 million dollar national rev share cap
• How technology and AI have transformed recruiting and game prep
• What the next five years could look like for college athletics
• How Denton businesses of any size can get involved with UNT athletics

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introduction 

01:06 Navigating the new world of NIL 

02:08 Growing up as a coach's son 

03:07 Choosing baseball, then football at Tarleton State 

05:08 Career stops from Lamar to Texas Tech to Kentucky 

07:14 Coaching Jaylen Darden at UNT 

10:22 The new role and the longest title in college sports 

11:26 NIL versus revenue sharing 

16:02 How technology changed recruiting and game planning 

22:33 How local businesses can get involved 

25:22 Favorite spots around Denton

Denton Highlights

• The Denton Square
• Local Mexican food spots around the square
• Denton barbecue restaurants

Guest Links and Resources

• Email Tommy directly at [email protected]
• University of North Texas Athletics: meangreensports.com