ASU Football: Sun Devils hire current UNLV OC Glenn Thomas to same position

(Photo: Brendan Belfield/WCSN)

Arizona State Football announced on Monday that it has hired current UNLV offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas to the same position. Thomas will also serve as the Sun Devils’ quarterbacks coach.

Thomas replaces Zak Hill, who in 2019 was hired away from Boise State.  Hill resigned from ASU on Friday after the NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations by the program implicated him.  He was among four ASU assistants who lost their job.

“Glenn Thomas has spent the past 20 years working specifically with quarterbacks and coordinating offenses both in the NFL and in college football,” ASU head coach Herm Edwards said in a press release. “He is known around football circles for his expertise in quarterback play, with quarterback mechanics and getting them to play at their optimum level.  His work with Matt Ryan in Atlanta speaks for itself as Matt enjoyed the best years of his career under Glenn. Also, he’s worked with young quarterbacks in college and has made them highly successful. I am pleased to welcome Glenn to Tempe and excited to have him coordinate our offense.”

“I am beyond fired up and humbled to be a part of a top-tier program at a top-tier University,” Thomas said. “A great foundation has been laid at ASU and I am proud to be able to help build upon that.  I’m appreciative of Coach Edwards, Coach Brian Billick and Ray Anderson for this opportunity and to work side-by-side with them. I can’t wait to get into the QB room and go to work with the Sun Devil offense.”

Thomas was hired at UNLV in 2020, doubling as the Rebels’ quarterbacks coach. Previously, he was Baylor’s co-offensive coordinator and QBs coach from 2017-2019, and was at Temple as the sole OC in 2016.

From 2008-2014, Thomas worked for the Atlanta Falcons, holding offensive assistant and quarterback coaching roles during his time there.

The past two years were not kind to UNLV and Thomas, as the Rebels were the 119th ranked offense in the country in total yards per game in 2021 and finished 110th in 2020 (UNLV did play just six games in the latter year).  However, Thomas did oversee running back Charles Williams, who currently leads all college rushers nationwide in yards gained on the ground.

Additionally, Thomas’ time at Baylor saw him co-lead offenses that finished 59th, 22nd and 52nd in YPG in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. 

Thomas’ years as the quarterbacks coach with the Falcons saw current Atlanta QB Matt Ryan never post a passer rating below 89.6, and Ryan led the NFL in completion percentage in 2012 while averaging 7.7 yards per attempt.

Thomas will be tasked with helping ASU senior quarterback Jayden Daniels turn around what has been a disappointing two seasons at the helm of the Sun Devils’ offense. In 2021, Daniels threw just 10 touchdowns to go along with 10 interceptions.

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