Tommy Thigpen
Current position | |
---|---|
Title | linebackers coach |
Team | North Carolina |
Conference | ACC |
Biographical details | |
Born | El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S. | March 17, 1971
Playing career | |
1989–1992 | North Carolina |
1993 | New York Giants |
1995–1996 | Barcelona Dragons |
Position(s) | Linebacker |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1998–1999 | North Carolina (GA) |
2000 | Tennessee State (LB) |
2001 | Bowling Green (CB) |
2002 | Bowling Green (STC/CB) |
2003 | Illinois (CB) |
2004 | Illinois (LB) |
2005–2008 | North Carolina (LB) |
2009–2011 | Auburn (S) |
2012 | Auburn (LB) |
2013–2017 | Tennessee (LB) |
2018 | North Carolina (LB) |
2019–2021 | North Carolina (co-DC/ILB) |
2022–present | North Carolina (co-DC/LB) |
Tommy Thigpen (born March 17, 1971) is an American
Playing career
Thigpen was born and raised in
Coaching career
Thigpen began his coaching career as a UNC graduate assistant in 1998–1999 under Carl Torbush. He received his first full-time position the following season coaching linebackers at Tennessee State. In 2001–2002, he was hired by new head coach Urban Meyer as the cornerbacks coach and special team's coordinator at Bowling Green where he helped coach one of the Mid-American Conference's top defenses, leading the MAC in turnover margin in 2002.[3] BGSU also finished second in the MAC in pass efficiency defense,[3] while Thigpen's special teams also were impressive, blocking seven punts and one field goal.
When Meyer went to Utah in 2003, Thigpen was hired by
On February 15, 2009, Gene Chizik announced Thigpen had been hired as the safeties coach at Auburn University.[6] He will split responsibilities coaching the Tigers secondary with Phillip Lolley who was promoted to cornerbacks coach.[6] After three season coaching the safeties, Thigpen took over as linebackers coach for the 2012 season.
After Chizik was fired by Auburn following the 2012 season and Thigpen was not retained by new coach Gus Malzahn (who had previously worked alongside Thigpen under Chizik), he was hired to coach linebackers at the University of Tennessee for new head coach Butch Jones.
Thigpen was a coach for Auburn when they won the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.
Thigpen was named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2007 and 2009 by
He returned to Chapel Hill in 2018, when he was hired by head coach Larry Fedora to coach the linebackers. When Fedora was fired following the conclusion of the 2018 season, Thigpen was retained and elevated to co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach by the returning Mack Brown, whom he had played under from 1989–1992. Thigpen's recruiting acumen and connection to Brown and the program were key reasons why he was retained by Brown after the coaching change.
Personal life
Thigpen graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina in 1993. He is married to the former Jacinda Webb and the couple have two daughters.
References
- ^ "2008 North Carolina coaching staff" (PDF). UNC. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
- ^ "1993 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ NCAA. 2003. Retrieved January 6, 2003.
- New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2004.
- ^ "Mapp signs with Packers". Times-News. 2008. Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
- ^ a b "Chizik finalizes first coaching staff by hiring Thigpen, promoting Lolley". Press-Register. 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
- ^ "Rivals.com Top 25 recruiters". Rivals.com. 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
- ^ "Class of 2009: Top 25 recruiters". Rivals.com. 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
- 247Sports.com. 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
- ^ "Top football recruiters of the year". ESPN. 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "Southeast dominates list of top recruiters". Rivals.com. 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ "Scout/FoxSports Recruiter of the Year". Scout.com. 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ "Recruiter of the Year: Tommy Thigpen". Archived from the original on May 27, 2015.