Starting to break that Auburn has filled one of the two openings on the staff, this one looks to be another excellent hire: http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/thigpen_tommy00.html A former All-ACC linebacker at North Carolina, Tommy Thigpen enters his fourth season as the Tar Heels' linebackers coach. An exceptional recruiter, Thigpen was recently named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2007 by Rivals.com. Thigpen tutored the team's leading tacklers in each of his three seasons in Chapel Hill, including Durell Mapp, who led the team in 2006 and 2007. Mapp, who came to Carolina as a walk-on, left as one of the most prolific tacklers in recent Tar Heel history and signed an NFL free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. He finished second in the ACC in tackles per game and was a second-team All-ACC selection. Thigpen also coached Carolina's 2005 leading tacklers, linebackers Tommy Richardson and Larry Edwards. Richardson was named honorable-mention All-ACC, while Edwards had his two best seasons under Thigpen, leading the team in tackles for losses in 2005 and 2006. Thigpen was hired from Illinois, where he coached for two years and had been asked to remain on Ron Zook's Illini staff. He was the cornerbacks coach in 2003 and the linebackers coach in 2004. Thigpen achieved accolades as a Parade All-America and Virginia Defensive Player of the Year at Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va.
Phillip Lolley is also moving back to the field, where he was when Gene was the DC. Rumor is Scott Fountain is coming down from Iowa State to fill Phillip's admin position.
Nice hire. Carolina fans didnt think he would leave and are sad to see him go. Chizik has put together a quality staff -- spring practice will be fun to watch.
Yeah, I was under the impression that not only had Chizik failed @ ISU, but that he had done a bad job assembling the team over there. Perhaps that was more about the school than the coach? We'll know soon enough.
