Jay Thomas Hometown: Baker, Louisiana Position: Head Coach/Special Teams

Jay Thomas begins his fourth season as head coach at Nicholls State University and his 11th season overall on the Colonel staff. Thomas came to Nicholls State from Southeast Missouri State, where he was defensive line coach from 1993-98. During his time as part of the Indian program, he directed a defensive line that was part of a nationally ranked defensive unit. He coached 11 All-Ohio Valley selections and he had two defensive linemen selected Players of the Year in the OVC. For his career, Thomas has worked with 12 different players who earned All-Conference accolades along the defensive line. Prior to his stint at Southeast Missouri State, Thomas worked for the Colonels and was part of a nationally ranked defense in two of his three seasons. From 1988-89, Thomas worked as a graduate assistant at Louisiana State. At LSU, he was an assistant coach of linebackers and defensive line. He also handled all scouting of opponents and video exchange and was part of the Tigers' 1988 coaching staff that won the SEC Championship. Thomas also served as an assistant football coach in the Hattiesburg Public Schools system for three seasons. Thomas biggest accolades came in 2005 when he was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award after leading Nicholls to a 6-4 overall record that included being SLC co-Champions and advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs for only the third time in school history where they dropped a heartbreaking 14-12 decision to eventual semifinalists, Furman. Originally from Baker, La., Thomas received his bachelor's degree from Southern Miss. in 1988 in Athletic Administration and Coaching. He is the son of Larry Thomas, a 33-year coaching veteran of high school football. Larry spent 29 years at Baker (La.) High School. Married to the former Jan Fairbanks, Thomas resides in Thibodaux with his wife and two daughters Hannah (7) and Haley (5).