Thigpen Returning To Alma Mater Once Again

THI has learned through multiple sources very close to the situation that former Tar Heels’ linebacker Tommy Thigpen is returning to Chapel Hill as an assistant coach.

With each FBS school allowed to add a staff position, UNC head coach Larry Fedora is bringing in Thigpen, who spent the last five years as the linebackers’ coach at Tennessee. Thigpen is known as a top level recruiter, having been named the National Recruiter of the Year in 2014.

This is his third stint coaching at his alma mater, where he played from 1989-92. He was a graduate assistant from 1998-99 and coached linebackers from 2005-08. Thigpen also was at Auburn the following four seasons, including when the Tigers won the national championship in 2010. Following Gene Chizik's departure from Auburn in 2013, Thigpen went to Tennessee.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones was fired in late November, freeing up Thigpen and bringing him to UNC.

Thigpen brings an impressive reputation as a recruiter to UNC’s coaching staff. He was named Rivals.com’s National Recruiter of the Year in 2014 with a class that finished No. 5 overall. Of the 31 players it signed that year, two were 5-star prospects and 16 were 4-star kids.

Tennessee ranked No. 5 in 2015 as well. Of the 29 players it signed in that class, four were 5-stars and 13 were 4-star prospects.

In 2016, Tennessee finished with the No. 15 class with 22 signatures. One of them was a 5-star prospect and 11 others earned 4 stars.

And last year, Tennessee signed 28 players in class that was ranked No. 15. It had no 5-star kids and 9 with 4 stars.