Byron Thomas enters his second season as Minnesota State's defensive backs coach.
The 2017 season saw Thomas coach three All-NSIC honorees including Larry Moore and Jerry Nash II who claimed All-NSIC first Team honors and Corey Brent who received All-NSIC Second Team honors. Maverick defensive backs recorded a total of 13 interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
Thomas, a native of Palmdale, Calif., has served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alfred State during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Prior to joining the Pioneers, Thomas spent one season as the defensive coordinator at Minot State and one season as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Culver-Stockton.
Before joining Culver-Stockton, Thomas spent one season as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M and at South Florida. He began his coaching career at St. Cloud State where he helped develop two All-NSIC running backs.
As a player, Thomas played four seasons with the University of South Dakota. As a senior, he was named USD’s Defensive MVP as he tallied 47 tackles, including 13 for a loss, and seven sacks. He played in 46 games during his four-year career with the Coyotes where he recorded 136 tackles and 11 sacks. In 2009, Thomas received his degree in sociology at South Dakota.
