SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head coach Frank Wilson announced Thursday that he has named Will Thomas as the Roadrunners' linebackers coach.
"We're excited to announce Will Thomas as our new linebackers coach," Wilson said. "He has worked diligently to position himself to earn this opportunity. In this profession, there's a certain way you go about ascending. Will started off as a student assistant, earned his degree, moved into a graduate assistant role, then became quality control to now a full-time assistant coach. It's been seven years in the making, of Will going through the process the right way."
A veteran of Wilson's UTSA staff since 2016, Thomas spent the 2018 season as quality control for the defense after a two-year stint as a graduate assistant coach for the defense. During his time in San Antonio, UTSA has emerged as one of the top defensive units in Conference USA.
In his first year with the Roadrunners, Thomas was a graduate assistant coach for the defense who worked with the linebackers while pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology. UTSA won six games and played in the program's first-ever bowl game — the Gildan New Mexico Bowl — to tie the NCAA startup program record by reaching a bowl in its sixth season. The Roadrunners finished the campaign ranked third in C-USA in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and first in red zone defense. Linebacker Josiah Tauaefa earned Freshman All-America, C-USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference accolades after setting the school's single-season tackles record with 115.
Thomas helped the Roadrunners attain bowl eligibility for the second straight season in 2017. The defense led the league in seven different statistical categories and ranked in the top 10 among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in five. UTSA held eight of its 11 opponents to 300-or-less yards of total offense, including a school-record 149 allowed in the 51-17 win against Southern, and five foes rushed for 100-or-less yards, highlighted by a program-record 37 allowed in the 44-14 victory at Texas State. He worked directly with the SAM position (outside linebackers), where Marcus Davenport thrived en route to being named C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference before becoming the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In 2018, Thomas moved into the role of quality control for the defense and special teams. He worked directly with the defensive ends, who combined to post 110 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, nine sacks, seven quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Thomas came to the Alamo City after spending three seasons (2013-15) as a student assistant coach at LSU, where he worked with Wilson, current UTSA offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Jeff Kastl and passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Tony Ball. He served as an offensive assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach under head coach Les Miles his first two years before assisting Wilson with the running backs in 2015.
While at LSU, he helped the Tigers to 27 wins over three seasons, three bowl games and a pair of bowl wins. Thomas worked with quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, and All-American running back Leonard Fournette, the 2017 No. 4 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A native of Franklin, Tenn., he got his start with the Tigers as a recommended walk-on quarterback before transitioning into the student coaching role.
Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies with minors in communication studies, history and religious studies from LSU in 2016.
His older brother, Austin, is the Associate Athletics Director for Football Recruiting at Texas A&M.
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