James Thomas Jr.

James Edward Thomas Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the safeties coach at the University of Maryland. He has also coached at Graceland University, Western New Mexico University, Clarion University, and Angelo State University.

Coaching career

Graceland Thomas served as a graduate assistant defensive backs coach for the 2009 season, following his playing career.

Western New Mexico The following year, Thomas began coaching the wide receivers coach for the Western New Mexico Mustangs as a graduate assistant. After two seasons, he moved back to the defensive side of the ball, coaching the defensive backs, while also adding special teams coordinator duties. Prior to the 2014 season, Thomas was again promoted. He served as the defensive coordinator for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. During his time with the Mustangs, Thomas coached at least seven all-conference performers.

Maryland Thomas joined the Maryland staff as a special teams quality control coach for the 2021 season. before rejoining the Terrapin staff as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

Playing career Thomas was a stellar athlete during his time at Graceland. In football, he started at cornerback for the Yellowjackets all four seasons. Additionally, Thomas earned all-conference honors his final three seasons. In the football offseason, he starred for the Yellowjacket Track and Field team, becoming an indoor track All-American in the 60-meter dash and breaking the school record in the 100-meter dash with a blazing time of 10.52 seconds.

Personal life Originally from an area of poverty in Orlando, Florida Thomas attended Graceland, in part, as an avenue to break out of the cycle. The relationships built while at the Lamoni, Iowa school continue to influence his life. He met his wife, Razanna, while at Graceland, as well as getting his start in coaching from one of his former Yellowjacket coaches, Adam Clark, whom he worked for both at Western New Mexico and Angelo State.

Thomas earned dual degrees in physical education and health from Graceland in 2009, and a master's degree in educational leadership from Western New Mexico in 2014. He and his wife have three children.