Joel Thomas (coach)

Thomas graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1993.[1] Following high school, he attended the University of Idaho, where he played as a running back for the Idaho Vandals. He was redshirted in 1995 for a broken foot, but returned to play for the team. Following what was at the time assumed to be a career ending injury to his knee during a 1997 game against the Air Force Falcons,[2] he ultimately returned once again to play in his senior season. He graduated in 1998,[1] and set the Vandals career records of 3,929 rushing yards, 51 rushing touchdowns and 765 rush attempts.[3] The records still stood as of 2019.[1]

Over his college career he was twice selected as a first-team All-Big West running back, and in 1998 he was named Big West Player of the Year. He helped lead the Vandal to a victory over Southern Miss that year’s Humanitarian Bowl, receiving the Humanitarian Award following the game. He also received offers to play in the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game. Thomas graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in public communications.[3]

Thomas started his coaching career in 2000 as a graduate assistant coach at Purdue University. He remained with Purdue through 2001, before assuming the running backs coach position with Louisville from 2002 to 2003. He was then the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach for his alma mater the University of Idaho[4] between 2004 to 2005, before returning to Purdue as the running backs coach from 2006 to 2008. Thomas then worked as the running backs coach for the Washington Huskies[1] between 2009 and 2012, where he coached a 1000-yard rusher in each season.[5] He was also named associate head coach for offensive responsibilities during the 2012 season.[4]

In 2013 Thomas became the running backs coach for the University of Arkansas, a position he held through the 2014 season.[5] Upon his hiring, Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema stated that, “He excelled at the position as a player and has demonstrated a remarkable ability to connect with his student-athletes and pass his knowledge on to them. He also brings a strong background of recruiting in Texas and Dallas specifically, which is a valuable area for us to have a presence.”[3] During his final year with the Razorbacks, Arkansas defeated the Texas Longhorns in the 2014 Texas Bowl.[4]

In 2015, Thomas joined the coaching staff of the New Orleans Saints as the running backs coach,[6] having previously done a training camp internship with the Saints in 2012. He had also held a training camp internship with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008.[7] Between 2015 and 2018, the Saints have led the NFL in total team rushing touchdowns (82).[1]

Thomas is a member of the Port Angeles High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the University of Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.[1]

Thomas is married to his wife Ebbie Thomas, with whom he has two children.[1]

• New Orleans Saints profile