Kendrick Nord enters his seventh season with the Grambling State University football team and his fourth year as the Tigers’ quarterbacks coach. Nord served as the tight ends coach in 2014 and, in 2012, he served as a student coach working with the quarterbacks.
During the 2018, Nord had to break in a new quarterback after Devante Kincade graduated. Geremy Hickbottom, Aldon Clark and Charles Wright combined for 193-of-347 passes for 2,350 yards, with 16 touchdowns. Despite the 16 scores, the Tigers threw 14 interceptions. Hickbottom, who played in all 11 games under center, threw for 1,945 yards on 145 of 259 passing, with 16 touchdowns. He also threw nine interceptions. Hickbottom led all quarterbacks by averaging 176.82 yards through the air.
Each of the last three seasons, the SWAC Player of the Year has been the starting quarterback at Grambling, as Johnathan Williams took home the honor in 2015 and Devante Kincade earned the award in 2016 and 2017, leading the Tigers to back to back SWAC Championship titles and Celebration Bowl appearances.
In 2017, Kincade led the conference in pass efficiency (142.6), passing yards (2,857), and passing touchdowns (23). Kincade also rushed for another six touchdowns and only threw four interceptions.
He also coached at Fort Valley State as quarterbacks coach in 2013 and had an internship with the New York Giants as an assistant with the tight ends coach.
Nord has had the privilege of mentoring the two best quarterbacks in the conference the past two seasons – Johnathan Williams, the 2015 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Devante Kincade, the 2016 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.
In 2015, Williams led the conference in total offense (293.7 ypg), passing yards (3,135), and touchdowns (37). Williams went on to be named to the Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) All-American First Team and the BOXTOROW All-American First Team.
Kincade returns as the starting quarterback for the 2017 season after a stellar season under center a year ago. In 2016, Kincade led the SWAC in passing yards per game (251.8), pass efficiency (166.0), passing touchdowns (31), fewest interceptions (4) and total offensive yards per game (273.8). He was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, Ben L. Cavil, Sr. “Big Ben” Award recipient, Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN) All-American, BOXTOROW All-American, SBN Sports Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year, HERO Sports FCS Newcomer of the Year and was a finalist for the Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Award.
Nord’s college playing experience included a standout career at Grambling State under legendary coach Eddie Robinson. Nord was a three-year starter at quarterback for Grambling from 1993-1995. He made a surprising and rewarding debut as a sophomore, finished with fewer interceptions than any other starting quarterback in the SWAC where he was named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year in 1993. Also, he broke Doug Williams’ record for most yards passing in his sophomore year with 1,987 yards and 16 touchdowns and 11 Interceptions, finishing first in pass efficiency.
During his junior year, he broke another Doug Williams record with 3,017 yards and 32 touchdowns. He finished that season as the No. 2-rated quarterback in the country. The same year, Nord played in one of the most exciting Grambling football games in the history of the program – the 1994 Grambling vs. Alcorn game. He passed for 485 yards and seven touchdowns in that game. He went on to earn All-SWAC Second Team and All-Louisiana First Team honors, and was named the Louisiana Player of the Year. Nord also ranks third on the all-time passing list in Grambling State University’s history.
Nord played professionally for several years following his career at Grambling. He had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (1996 training camp; Wide receiver), CFL’s Hamilton Tigercats (1997; Quarterback), AFL’s Iowa Barnstormers (1998; Quarterback/wide receiver), Baltimore Ravens WR (1999; Wide receiver), NFL Europe’s Rhein Fire (2000), AFL’s New York Dragons (2001; Wide receiver/cornerback).
In high school, Nord played football and basketball and earned all-state honors in both sports. He was also an All-Metro First Team and All-County pick. He passed for over 7,000 yards and threw 60 touchdowns during his high school career. He was highly recruited coming out of high school. Nord also had his #12 jersey retired in 2015 from Williamson High School.
Nord received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Grambling State University. He has three daughters – Keeyada, Rayven, and Nia.
