Shawn Thomas enters his second season as an assistant football coach for North Carolina A&T. As the specialist coach, Thomas will be responsible for coaching the Aggie place kickers, long snappers and punters.
During Thomas' first season, the Aggies had one of the most consistent punters in the conference in Alex Grubb. Grubb recorded five punts of 50 yards or more, and he had 18 of his punts land inside the opponent's 20-yard line. In addition, he helped receiver Wallace Miles pull double duty when Miles became the Aggies primary field goal kicker.
A veteran of the United States Army and multiple professional indoor football leagues, Thomas enters his second year of collegiate coaching. Thomas served as the specialist coach at Division III Guilford College in 2008. Thomas' work with the punters and kickers improved the Quakers' kicking game.
Prior to his coaching career, Thomas spent five seasons kicking in the Arena Football League2 and the National Indoor Football League with teams in North Carolina and Florida. Thomas earned an opportunity to play professionally thanks to a stellar college career at Winston-Salem State University.
An all-star kicker at the Paxon School in Jacksonville, Fla., Thomas kicked for the Rams for four seasons (1996-99) under head Kermit Blount, and captured first-team All-CIAA honors in 1997 and 1999. In 1999, Thomas' CIAA-leading 11 field goals and 27 extra points helped the Rams win the conference championship.
Before enrolling at Winston-Salem State, Thomas served in the Army for five years. An Army Reserve Medical Corps Officer, Thomas has a total of 15 years in the U.S. Army.
He began his coaching career coaching kickers and special teams for head coach Mark Holcomb at North Davidson High School (N.C.) in 2003. A number of Black Knights have gone on to kick in college, including East Carolina University's Ben Hartman and Justin Durham of Coastal Carolina.
Thomas has a B.S, in recreation administration, and received an ROTC Army Officer Commission from North Carolina A&T State University in 2007.
