Thomas Joins Nebraska Football Coaching Staff

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule has added veteran offensive coach Glenn Thomas to the Husker staff. Thomas has more than two decades of college and NFL coaching experience and will serve as Nebraska’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Thomas’ hire is pending the completion of the University of Nebraska hiring process.

 

Thomas comes to Lincoln after one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thomas served as an offensive assistant, helping the Steelers to an appearance in the AFC playoffs.

 

Rhule also announced offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield will assume responsibility for coaching the Husker tight ends in 2024.  Additionally, Josh Martin will return to his role as an analyst for the Huskers after serving as an interim offensive assistant coach last season.

 

Thomas’ impressive resume includes five seasons working with Rhule at Temple and Baylor. In each of those stops, Thomas and Rhule developed record-setting quarterbacks in Temple’s P.J. Walker and Baylor’s Charlie Brewer.

 

“Glenn Thomas has a history of success throughout his coaching career, and I look forward to him being a part of the Nebraska football program,” Rhule said. “Glenn has proven to be an elite developer of quarterbacks, and his background at both the collegiate and NFL levels is a great addition to our coaching staff.”

 

Overall, Thomas has 15 years of college coaching experience, serving at the coordinator level in 10 of those seasons. He has eight full seasons on NFL staffs and was influential in the development of NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan.

 

“I am honored for the opportunity to join a tradition-rich football program at the University of Nebraska,” Thomas said. “I have been fortunate to work for Coach Rhule in the past and appreciate the chance to join him and his outstanding staff at Nebraska. I can’t wait to get to Lincoln and go to work with the Husker offense.”

 

Before spending the 2023 season in Pittsburgh, Thomas was Arizona State's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022. He oversaw a rushing attack that saw Xavier Valladay notch the 10th-best rushing mark in school history with 1,192 yards and 16 touchdowns. Additionally, under Thomas' tutelage, quarterbacks Trenton Bourget broke the ASU record for single-season completion percentage at 71.4 percent.

 

Prior to Arizona State, Thomas was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV (2020-21). He helped lead the Rebels to several historical accomplishments during that time, including helping running back Charles Williams break the program's career rushing record and earn first-team All-Mountain West honors. In both of Thomas's seasons at UNLV he contributed to the development of the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. In 2020, wide receiver Kyle Williams achieved the honor, while quarterback Cameron Friel earned the award in 2021. Friel broke the school record for season completion percentage by a freshman, connecting on 62.4 percent of his passes.

 

Thomas spent the previous five seasons working on Rhule’s staff at Baylor and Temple. Thomas was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Baylor from 2017 to 2019, assisting in transforming the program. In 2019 the Bears went 11-2 with a No. 7 ranking and a Sugar Bowl appearance. During Thomas' three years in Waco, quarterback Charlie Brewer developed into one of the top quarterbacks in school history, throwing 69 touchdowns in three seasons and being named a semifinalist for the 2019 Davey O'Brien Award.

 

Thomas moved to Baylor alongside Rhule after serving at Temple in 2015 and 2016. In two years with the Owls, one as quarterbacks coach and the second as offensive coordinator, Thomas helped the program post the school's first back-to-back 10-win seasons and bowl berths and capture the 2016 American Athletic Conference title. The 2016 offense averaged 413.6 yards and 32.4 points per game under Thomas’ direction. As quarterbacks coach in 2015, Thomas mentored junior QB P.J. Walker, who threw for 3,295 yards and 22 touchdowns.

 

Before his time at Temple, Thomas spent seven seasons in the NFL from 2008 to 2014. He was the Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach for three seasons after being promoted from offensive assistant. During the three seasons when Thomas guided quarterback Matt Ryan, the former first-round pick threw for more than 4,500 yards and 26 touchdowns in each campaign. Ryan earned Pro Bowl honors after the 2012 and 2014 seasons and cemented himself as the best quarterback in franchise history.

 

In 2012, Ryan set franchise single-season highs in passing yards (4,719), touchdown passes (32) and completion percentage (68.6). Atlanta's offense also featured perennial Pro Bowlers Roddy White and Julio Jones at wide receiver, Michael Turner at running back and legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez, an NFL Hall of Famer.

 

Thomas started his full-time college coaching career at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas, from 2001 to 2007. As a graduate assistant coaching wide receivers from 2001-04, the Mustangs won the Lone Star North Division Championship in his first season. Thomas oversaw the school's passing game and quarterbacks in the 2004 campaign and helped guide MSU to its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in school history. Thomas transformed MSU's offense into a powerhouse while serving as coordinator from 2005-07. During his final season, the Mustang offense led the nation in total offense (550.0 yards per game) and rushing yards per game (317.0).

 

During his time at Midwestern State, he spent time with the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason. He assisted with wide receivers and quarterbacks (2002-03, 2005), and first met future Falcons coach Mike Smith during that time. The two also worked together during Smith's tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars for one season in 2004.

 

A native of Eastland, Texas, Thomas began his coaching career as a student assistant at Texas Tech. He earned his degree from Texas Tech in 1998 and received a master’s degree from Midwestern State in 2004.  Thomas and his wife Felicia have two children, Hayden and Dylan.

 

Thomas Coaching History

2024:  Nebraska, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2023: Pittsburgh Steelers, Offensive Assistant Coach

2022: Arizona State, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2020-21: UNLV, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2017-19: Baylor, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2016: Temple, Offensive Coordinator

2015: Temple, Quarterbacks Coach

2012-14: Atlanta Falcons, Quarterbacks Coach

2008-11: Atlanta Falcons, Offensive Assistant

2005-07: Midwestern State, Offensive Coordinator

2001-04: Midwestern State, Graduation Assistant (Wide Receivers)