Football
Tommerdahl, Mark
Mark Tommerdahl
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach | 3rd Season
Mark Tommerdahl returned to TCU in December 2021.
After serving as special teams coordinator his first two seasons back with the Horned Frogs, he became special assistant to the head coach in 2024. He was initially a Horned Frog for three seasons (1998-2000) as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.
Tommerdahl was the architect of one of college football's moments of the year in 2022 when TCU's "Bazooka" play saw Griffin Kell convert a 40-yard field goal as time expired for a 29-28 win over Baylor. Kell earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Tommerdahl's impact was felt in all aspects of TCU's special teams as Derius Davis was the 2022 recipient of the Jet Award as the nation's top return specialist.
Before arriving back in Fort Worth, Tommerdahl spent the previous three seasons (2019-21) as associate head coach and overseeing the special teams units at Texas Tech. He has been a special teams coordinator for over 25 seasons, including at Cal and Louisiana Tech where he served under TCU Head Coach Sonny Dykes. Tommerdahl was the Golden Bears' assistant head coach in the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
In his first season at Texas Tech in 2019, Tommerdahl coached punter Austin McNamara into Freshman All-America honors and freshman place-kicker Trey Wolff to All-Big 12 accolades. The Red Raiders blocked seven kicks during Tommerdahl's time in Lubbock.
Tommerdahl’s special teams units played a significant role in Purdue’s success in 2018. True freshman Rondale Moore was a standout in the return game en route to winning the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.
In Tommerdahl's lone season (2017) at Utah State, the Aggies led the Mountain West and ranked fourth nationally with four blocked punts. Utah State was also among the top-25 teams nationally in kick return defense, allowing only 18.1 yards per return.
The Golden Bears led the Pac-12 and ranked 14th nationally in kick return defense during Tommerdahl’s final season, limiting opponents to only 18.0 yards per return. Dylan Kiumph was also among the nation’s top punters with a 44.8 average, while kicker Matt Anderson was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
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 ranked second nationally in blocked punts as well as fewest opponent punt returns (6) and punt return yards allowed (62). 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 which ranked second nationally. He became only the 20th player in FBS history to return two kickoffs for a touchdown in a game as he found the end zone from 100 and 98 yards at Washington State.
Prior to his arrival at Cal, Tommerdahl coached one of the top punters in NCAA history in two-time Ray Guy Award winner Ryan Allen at Louisiana Tech. He became the first player to win the accolade in consecutive seasons (2011-12) and only the second two-time recipient. Tommerdahl also mentored tight end Dennis Morris to All-America honors during his first season in 2009.
Tommerdahl moved to Louisiana Tech from ULM in 2008, where he stayed one season as the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. Before that, he spent five years at Texas A&M where he oversaw the Aggies’ special teams and tight ends, including Martellus Bennett who was a second-round NFL Draft selection and spent 10 years in the league.
Tommerdahl was also the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in similar stops at Alabama (2001-02), New Mexico (1997) and Minnesota (1995-96). Alabama won the 2002 SEC West Division title during his final season in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide closed the year at No. 11 in the Associated Press poll.
A native of Fergus Falls, Minn., Tommerdahl began his coaching career in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Wyoming. He spent 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 an MBA with an emphasis in marketing from Wyoming in 1986.
Tommerdahl's wife, Annette, holds a doctorate degree in counseling education with an emphasis in university administration.
After serving as special teams coordinator his first two seasons back with the Horned Frogs, he became special assistant to the head coach in 2024. He was initially a Horned Frog for three seasons (1998-2000) as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.
Tommerdahl was the architect of one of college football's moments of the year in 2022 when TCU's "Bazooka" play saw Griffin Kell convert a 40-yard field goal as time expired for a 29-28 win over Baylor. Kell earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Tommerdahl's impact was felt in all aspects of TCU's special teams as Derius Davis was the 2022 recipient of the Jet Award as the nation's top return specialist.
Before arriving back in Fort Worth, Tommerdahl spent the previous three seasons (2019-21) as associate head coach and overseeing the special teams units at Texas Tech. He has been a special teams coordinator for over 25 seasons, including at Cal and Louisiana Tech where he served under TCU Head Coach Sonny Dykes. Tommerdahl was the Golden Bears' assistant head coach in the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
In his first season at Texas Tech in 2019, Tommerdahl coached punter Austin McNamara into Freshman All-America honors and freshman place-kicker Trey Wolff to All-Big 12 accolades. The Red Raiders blocked seven kicks during Tommerdahl's time in Lubbock.
Tommerdahl’s special teams units played a significant role in Purdue’s success in 2018. True freshman Rondale Moore was a standout in the return game en route to winning the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.
In Tommerdahl's lone season (2017) at Utah State, the Aggies led the Mountain West and ranked fourth nationally with four blocked punts. Utah State was also among the top-25 teams nationally in kick return defense, allowing only 18.1 yards per return.
The Golden Bears led the Pac-12 and ranked 14th nationally in kick return defense during Tommerdahl’s final season, limiting opponents to only 18.0 yards per return. Dylan Kiumph was also among the nation’s top punters with a 44.8 average, while kicker Matt Anderson was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
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 ranked second nationally in blocked punts as well as fewest opponent punt returns (6) and punt return yards allowed (62). 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 which ranked second nationally. He became only the 20th player in FBS history to return two kickoffs for a touchdown in a game as he found the end zone from 100 and 98 yards at Washington State.
Prior to his arrival at Cal, Tommerdahl coached one of the top punters in NCAA history in two-time Ray Guy Award winner Ryan Allen at Louisiana Tech. He became the first player to win the accolade in consecutive seasons (2011-12) and only the second two-time recipient. Tommerdahl also mentored tight end Dennis Morris to All-America honors during his first season in 2009.
Tommerdahl moved to Louisiana Tech from ULM in 2008, where he stayed one season as the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. Before that, he spent five years at Texas A&M where he oversaw the Aggies’ special teams and tight ends, including Martellus Bennett who was a second-round NFL Draft selection and spent 10 years in the league.
Tommerdahl was also the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in similar stops at Alabama (2001-02), New Mexico (1997) and Minnesota (1995-96). Alabama won the 2002 SEC West Division title during his final season in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide closed the year at No. 11 in the Associated Press poll.
A native of Fergus Falls, Minn., Tommerdahl began his coaching career in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Wyoming. He spent 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 an MBA with an emphasis in marketing from Wyoming in 1986.
Tommerdahl's wife, Annette, holds a doctorate degree in counseling education with an emphasis in university administration.
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