With the opening of training camp for the 2015 season tomorrow, Stetson head football coach Roger Hughes has completed filling out his coaching staff for the coming year with the addition of former NFL standout Kiwaukee Thomas as defensive backs coach.
"I am very excited to have Coach Thomas join our staff as our defensive back coach,” Hughes said. “His high energy and passionate style of coaching, coupled with his experience of playing nine years in the NFL, will provide the opportunity to take our players to the next level."
Thomas comes to Stetson after a year as head football coach at Ruskin High School in Kansas City. In addition to his coaching duties there, he was also Assistant AD for the school district with oversight of 35 sport coaches, budgets, facilities and scheduling.
Prior to embarking on his coaching career, Thomas played collegiately at Georgia Southern where he helped the Eagles to the 1999 FCS national championship by earning All-America honors as a defensive back. He was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2000 N
“It is an honor to come to Stetson University to work under Coach Hughes and to help strengthen the foundation of this growing football program,” Thomas said. “I would like to thank Coach (Brian) Young, a fellow Georgia Southern alum, for giving me the opportunity to return to my passion – collegiate football, especially coaching defensive backs.”FL Draft.
Thomas spent eight seasons in the NFL, playing for the Jags from 2000-04 before playing for the Miami Dolphins in 2005. He then played for the Buffalo Bills in 2006-07. He retired following the 2008 season after spending the year with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.
“Having been a defensive back at the professional level, I have the knowledge and experience to share with the players,” Thomas said. “Being on a staff with veteran coaches, I know I will grow both personally and professionally.”
Thomas started his coaching career as a high school consultant at Dunwoody High in Georgia and Jones High in Orlando. From there he served as special teams coordinator, receivers and defensive backs coach at Wharton High in Tampa for one season before taking on defensive coordinator duties for his second season.
In 2013 he moved to Webber International as defensive backs coach.
Thomas, a native of Warner-Robins, Ga., completed his Bachelor's degree in Sports and Recreational Management at Ashford University in 2011 as an honors graduate. He and his wife, Tanessa, have four children – Bryce, Kris, Kiera and Bria.
