Napier Welcomes James Thomas Jr. as Quality Control – Cornerbacks
Monday, January 24, 2022 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Thomas Jr. joined the Gators staff in the role of quality control – cornerbacks, head coach Billy Napier announced Monday.
Thomas Jr. spent the 2021 season as a special teams quality control analyst at the University of Maryland.
Prior to Maryland, he served two seasons (2019-20) as co-defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Angelo State University. Under his guidance, the Rams defense was one of the top-performing units among Division II schools, ranking third nationally in scoring defense (14.8 PPG), fifth in defensive pass efficiency (93.17), and 10th in interceptions (17).
Thomas Jr. also spent three seasons at Clarion University (2016-18), where he served as the Golden Eagles defensive coordinator. In 2018, Clarion's defense ranked sixth in interceptions, eighth in takeaways and 14th in red zone defense.
A native of Orlando, Fla., Thomas Jr. started his career at Western New Mexico in 2010, where he coached the receivers his first two seasons (2010-11), and served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach (2012-13), and defensive coordinator (2014-15).
Thomas Jr. is a graduate of Graceland University, where he played cornerback from 2004-08 and earned his degree in physical education and health in 2009. He also has a master's degree in educational leadership from Western New Mexico.
Thomas Jr. spent the 2021 season as a special teams quality control analyst at the University of Maryland.
Prior to Maryland, he served two seasons (2019-20) as co-defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Angelo State University. Under his guidance, the Rams defense was one of the top-performing units among Division II schools, ranking third nationally in scoring defense (14.8 PPG), fifth in defensive pass efficiency (93.17), and 10th in interceptions (17).
Thomas Jr. also spent three seasons at Clarion University (2016-18), where he served as the Golden Eagles defensive coordinator. In 2018, Clarion's defense ranked sixth in interceptions, eighth in takeaways and 14th in red zone defense.
A native of Orlando, Fla., Thomas Jr. started his career at Western New Mexico in 2010, where he coached the receivers his first two seasons (2010-11), and served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach (2012-13), and defensive coordinator (2014-15).
Thomas Jr. is a graduate of Graceland University, where he played cornerback from 2004-08 and earned his degree in physical education and health in 2009. He also has a master's degree in educational leadership from Western New Mexico.
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