Coaching Staff COMPLETE

[metafour 5,776]

Defensive coordinator/linebackers: Ted Roof

Defensive line: Tracy Rocker

Cornerbacks: Phillip Lolley

Safeties: Tommy Thigpen

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks: Gus Malzahn

WR and assistant head coach: Trooper Taylor

Offensive line: Jeff Grimes

Running backs and recruiting coordinator: Curtis Luper

Tigh ends and ST coordinator: Jay Boulware

[metafour 5,776]

ZERO posts? C'mon.

[auwallace 6]

i'm pretty pumped about thigpen. from what i've read he's done a bang up job at recruiting and these days that seems to be the name of the game.

[TigerDevil 3]

Jay Bouleware will be coaching tight ends and special teams.

Thigpen is a top recruiter also, he was named a top 25 recruiter by rival in 2007 and 2009.

[92AUGRAD 4]

It's going to be hard to outwork and outrecruit this staff. Extremely impressed but as many will say, it only matters if it transfers to the field. I expect it will. WDE

[Tigermike 4,240]

From the NC website.

Tommy Thigpen

A former All-ACC linebacker at North Carolina, Tommy Thigpen enters his fourth season as the Tar Heels' linebackers coach. An exceptional recruiter, Thigpen was recently named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2007 by Rivals.com.

Thigpen tutored the team's leading tacklers in each of his three seasons in Chapel Hill, including Durell Mapp, who led the team in 2006 and 2007. Mapp, who came to Carolina as a walk-on, left as one of the most prolific tacklers in recent Tar Heel history and signed an NFL free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. He finished second in the ACC in tackles per game and was a second-team All-ACC selection.

Thigpen also coached Carolina's 2005 leading tacklers, linebackers Tommy Richardson and Larry Edwards. Richardson was named honorable-mention All-ACC, while Edwards had his two best seasons under Thigpen, leading the team in tackles for losses in 2005 and 2006.

Thigpen was hired from Illinois, where he coached for two years and had been asked to remain on Ron Zook's Illini staff. He was the cornerbacks coach in 2003 and the linebackers coach in 2004.

Thigpen achieved accolades as a Parade All-America and Virginia Defensive Player of the Year at Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va.

A four-year letterwinner at North Carolina from 1989- 92, Thigpen was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference linebacker, earning first-team honors in 1991. He was co-captain of the 1992 team that went 9-3 and beat Mississippi State in the Peach Bowl, the first of seven straight bowl games for the Tar Heels in the 1990s. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Carolina.

Thigpen played professionally for the New York Giants in 1993- 94 and the Barcelona Dragons in 1995-96.

He began his coaching career as a UNC graduate assistant in 1998-99. He then coached linebackers at Tennessee State in 2000. In 2001-02, he coached cornerbacks and was the special teams coordinator at Bowling Green State.

At Bowling Green, Thigpen helped coach one of the Mid-American Conference's top defenses, as the Falcons forced 27 turnovers to lead the MAC in turnover margin in 2002. BGSU also finished second in the MAC in pass efficiency defense. Thigpen's special teams also were impressive, blocking seven punts and a potential game-winning field goal attempt by Western Michigan to preserve the Falcons, early undefeated season.

Thigpen is married to the former Jacinda Webb and the couple has a daughter, Asia. In May, Thigpen was selected by the Atlantic Coast Conference to attend the Minority Coaches Forum in Phoenix.

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-footb...en_tommy00.html

[metafour 5,776]

Jay Bouleware will be coaching tight ends and special teams.

Yup. I just copy/pasted that and didn't notice until now that there were only 8 coaches listed. Boulware added.

[RunInRed 19,608]

I would say we upgraded at almost every single position. I'm pretty excited with this staff, especially Malzahn. And from a recruiting perspective, it is light years difference.

[Orange_and_Blue 0]

I love the hires so far but now we need to transfer it into wins. Also, I am very excited about the new direction and emphasis on recruiting. WDE

[WAR-GIGEM-EAGLE 4]

so now we have coaches from the ACC, SEC, BIG 12 and Big 10. i like it.

[OldNewby 27]

Lolley, Thigpen Named Secondary Coaches At Auburn

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof will oversee the linebackers, Chizik also announced

Feb. 15, 2009

AUBURN--Phillip Lolley and Tommy Thigpen have been named secondary coaches at Auburn, announced head coach Gene Chizik Sunday. A member of the Auburn staff since 1999 and secondary coach in 2002-03, Lolley has been the Tigers' Director of NFL Relations the last five years. A former All-ACC linebacker at North Carolina, Thigpen spent the last four seasons as the Tar Heels' linebackers coach.

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof will oversee the linebackers, Chizik also announced.

"I'm very pleased to complete my staff with the additions of Phillip Lolley and Tommy Thigpen as secondary coaches," Chizik said.

Lolley coached Auburn's secondary in 2002-03, helping the Tigers finish 13th in nation in scoring defense in 2002 and ninth in 2003. Lolley coached Thorpe Award winner Carlos Rogers and Junior Rosegreen, who both went on to earn All-America honors in 2004. During his two years, he coached numerous future NFL players including Rogers, Rosegreen, Will Herring, Kevin Hobbs, Roderick Hood, Travaris Robinson, and Horace Willis.

"I coached side-by-side with Phillip when I was defensive coordinator at Auburn and it was very evident that he's a great coach," Chizik said. "He's been successful at every level and he will also be a valuable asset because of his strong relationships with high school programs and coaches in the state of Alabama."

A 22-year high school coach standout in the state of Alabama, Lolley served as head coach at three schools, including North Jackson High School, where he led the program to the 1993 4A state championship. A native of Butler, Ala., Lolley spent 10 years at North Jackson from 1988-98, where they advanced to the state playoffs each season.

"It was a great experience working with Coach Chizik during his previous tenure at Auburn," Lolley said. "He had the nation's top defense in 2004 and I look forward to working with Ted Roof to help return the Auburn defense to one of the best in the country. I'm pleased to be back on the field as part of the Auburn family and am very excited to start back recruiting the great state of Alabama."

Lolley began his coaching career at South Choctaw Academy in 1977 before becoming the head coach at Warrior Academy in Eutaw, from 1978-82. He also served as defensive coordinator at Demopolis High School (1982-84) and head coach at Stevenson High School (1984-87).

Prior to his coaching stint at Auburn, Lolley was a strength and conditioning coach on the Plains from 1999-00.

Lolley, 55, received a bachelor's degree from Livingston in 1977 and a master's degree in 1981. He is married to the former Ann Miller and the couple has a son, Brad, and daughter, Brittany.

An exceptional recruiter, Thigpen was named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2007 by Rivals.com and tutored UNC's leading tacklers in each of his four seasons at Chapel Hill.

"Tommy has had a tremendous amount of success at every stop he's made as an assistant coach," Chizik said. "I've been well aware of him since his days as a standout player at North Carolina and have followed his professional career very closely. I'm extremely pleased to be adding someone with his professionalism and coaching expertise to this staff."

Prior to his arrival at North Carolina, Thigpen was at Illinois, where he coached for two years serving as the cornerbacks coach in 2003 and the linebackers coach in 2004.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to work at a tradition-rich program like Auburn and for an outstanding coach in Gene Chizik. It was a tough decision to leave my alma mater, but this is a great step for me professionally. I've known Ted Roof from his days in the ACC and played for (former UNC and current Texas head coach) Mack Brown, so I'm very familiar with the outstanding coaches that are in place at Auburn. I can't wait to get started and look forward to joining the Auburn family."

He began his coaching career as a UNC graduate assistant in 1998-99. He then coached linebackers at Tennessee State in 2000. In 2001-02, he coached cornerbacks and was the special team's coordinator at Bowling Green State.

At Bowling Green State, Thigpen helped coach one of the Mid-American Conference's top defenses, leading the MAC in turnover margin in 2002. BGSU also finished second in the MAC in pass efficiency defense, while Thigpen's special teams also were impressive, blocking seven punts and one field goal.

Thigpen, 38, achieved accolades as a Parade All-America and Virginia Defensive Player of the Year at Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va.

A four-year letterwinner at North Carolina from 1989- 92, Thigpen was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference linebacker, earning first-team honors in 1991. He was co-captain of the 1992 team that went 9-3 were Peach Bowl champions. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Carolina.

Thigpen played professionally for the New York Giants in 1993-94 and the Barcelona Dragons in 1995-96.

Thigpen is married to the former Jacinda Webb and the couple has a daughter, Asia. In May 2008, Thigpen was selected by the Atlantic Coast Conference to attend the Minority Coaches Forum in Phoenix.

link: http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-foot.../021509aaa.html

WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!

[TitanTiger 22,249]

Getting Thigpen was a coup. The guy has been an outstanding recruiter at UNC and is a UNC alum, which may explain why it wasn't until after NSD that he was willing to leave. He didn't want to leave his alma mater in the lurch right before signing day (Hear that Benedict Willis?).

The UNC boards are unanimous in being sick that they're losing this guy.

This past year he brought in (according to Rivals):

Six 4-stars

Two 3-stars

One 2-star

I like the looks of that.

[AUman43 5]

I haven't been as excited about a staff in a long time. If these hires translate into equal success on the field, we are indeed in for an resurgance. It's obvious from their records, that these men are going to battle our rivals head to head next recruiting season and I think, win their share of the battles.

[McWeagle 4]

NC has been a bit of a recruiting juggernaut the last couple years. I'm pumped that we got a piece of that.

And getting Carlos Rogers' and Junior Rosegreen's position coach back in the fold? No complaints here.

[mcgufcm 4,109]

One other plus on Lolley (although he was only on the coaching staff for one full season before he was moved into an admin/staff role) is that he coached in North Alabama prior to getting hired at Auburn. North Jackson is a big time school upstate, and Lolley knows a lot of people in North Alabama. It's kind of nice to bring in a guy with a strong connection to the state. The guys on this staff are supposedly great recruiters, but very few of them have a history in Alabama.

[AU alum 2]

The title should have been Kick-Ass Coaching Staff COMPLETE! They are great!