Joey Thomas | University of Nevada

Joey Thomas joins the Wolf Pack staff after serving as the Senior Defense Analyst at the University of Texas. The former All-American at Montana State and NFL veteran will oversee the Wolf Pack secondary.

Choate on Thomas: "I met Joey and got to know him during my time at Montana State, while he was coaching high school football in Seattle where he had a reputation for turning programs around, like he did for Ballard and Garfield. Joey had an outstanding career at Montana State, and we spent a lot of time talking about the program. He played in the NFL, and is a technician at his craft—he helps coach our corners at Texas and there has been vast improvement with that unit. Joey is another high-character individual on our staff, and the amount of time he takes to mentor is impressive--this is a big-time hire. He is a very well-connected recruiter and is respected for his technical knowledge. This will be a great opportunity for him to grow and lead our secondary at Nevada."

With the Longhorns, Thomas worked extensively with a defense, which, ahead of the 2023 bowl season, ranked second in the nation in 3rd-down defense (26.5 percent), third in red zone defense (71.4 percent) and third in rush defense (80.8 yards per game). Thomas worked closely with cornerback Terrance Brooks and safeties Michael Taaffe and Jerrin Thompson, who helped lead a secondary that ranked fifth in the nation with 16 interceptions.

“Coach Choate’s superpower is his ability to develop and create a great culture, which is why all of his position rooms as a positions coach and his teams as a head coach have been successful,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to be a part of the launch and to put ‘Wolf’ back in the Wolf Pack!”

Thomas previously spent two seasons (2020-21) on the FAU staff, joining as an analyst in 2020 before being elevated to wide receivers coach in 2021. Prior to his time in Boca Raton, Thomas spent the 2019 campaign at Fort Scott Junior College in Kansas, serving as passing game coordinator, special teams coordinator, secondary coach, and the team’s academic coordinator. They were top five in the country in 3rd down efficiency, passing yards per game, & yards per reception.

He rose to the collegiate ranks following a stellar prep coaching career in the Pacific Northwest. Thomas served as head coach at Garfield High School in Seattle from 2016-19, where he was named the Seattle Times’ “Star Times” Coach of the Year in 2016.

From 2011-16, Thomas was at the helm of the Ballard High School football program in Seattle. There, Thomas led the Beavers to two division titles, appearances in the state tournament, and a 12-4 Metro record over his final two seasons.

A third-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2004 NFL Draft, Thomas helped the Packers capture the NFC North title. He would go on to play six more seasons in the NFL, with stops in New Orleans, Miami and the Raiders before beginning his career in coaching.

From 2000-03, Thomas turned in a playing career at Montana State which has him considered one of the best cornerbacks in Bobcat history. An All-America Honorable Mention and two-time selection to the All-Big Sky First Team, Thomas finished his Montana State career with 10 interceptions and 37 pass breakups.