Kenwick Thompson - Football Coach - East Carolina University Athletics

Kenwick Thompson

Title:
Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
Email:
<a href="mailto:ecufootballrecruit@ecu.edu">thompsonken15@ecu.edu</a>
Phone:
(252) 737-4570

Kenwick Thompson is in his second season coordinating East Carolina’s defensive unit.

He joined the Pirate staff on Dec. 23, 2015 after two seasons at Vanderbilt, where he most recently served as associate head coach and linebackers coach in 2015.

In 2015, he helped the Commodores to Top 25 FBS statistical rankings in fourth down defense (4th), first down defense (5th), redzone defense (6th), third down defense (7th), most fumbles recovered (20th) and scoring defense (23rd) by allowing only 21.0 points per game. His star pupil Zach Cunningham earned Associated Press First-Team All-SEC honors after ranking among league leaders in tackles for loss (16.5), solo tackles (69), overall stops (103), forced fumbles (4) and recovered fumbles (3).

A year earlier, Thompson was responsible for developing Stephen Weatherly into one of the team’s most productive defenders. Moving from defensive end to outside linebacker, Weatherly finished the 2014 season by racking up a team-leading 12.5 tackles for loss.

Thompson was hired by Vanderbilt after spending the 2013 season as defensive coordinator at San Jose State in the Mountain West Conference and the six preceding years as an assistant at the University of California in the Pac-12 Conference.

While coaching the Spartan linebackers at San Jose State, Thompson helped senior captain Keith Smith to become just the second player in school history to earn All-MWC honors for four years after leading the nation in total tackles with 159. In addition to Smith, Thompson also tutored First-Team All-MWC defensive back Bene Benwikere at SJSU. Benwikere matched the Spartan career record with 14 interceptions, including five picks as a senior. He also ranked among NCAA leaders with 16 passes defended.

From 2007 to 2012, Thompson worked as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at California, playing a key role assisting the Golden Bears to four bowl appearances. In 2012, he was elevated to associate head coach status.

In 2011, Thompson’s linebacker corps helped the Golden Bears lead the Pac-12 in both total defense (332.9 yards) and pass defense (204.2 yards) during a 7-6 regular season that concluded with a Holiday Bowl appearance. Cal also topped the Pac-12 in total defense during the 2010 season.

Several of Thompson’s linebackers at California earned all-conference accolades. Among his top players was Mychal Kendricks, who earned All-America honors and was selected as the Pac-12 Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 2011 before starring for the Philadelphia Eagles.

During his first tour of duty at San Jose State from 2001 until 2006, Thompson served in a variety of coaching roles under head coaches Fitz Hill and Dick Tomey. His positions included linebackers coach (2001-03), defensive line coach (2004), defensive tackles coach (2006), recruiting coordinator (2001-2004) and head strength and conditioning coach (2005).

From 1994 to 2000, Thompson was on the coaching staff at Texas Southern University, including the last five seasons as defensive coordinator. During the summer of 2000, he was a participant in the prestigious National Football League Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Oakland Raiders, working with the linebackers and defensive line.

As a collegiate player, he was a defensive standout and team captain at Harding (Ark.) University, earning all-conference honors as a senior and finishing his career as the school’s all-time sack leader. Thompson earned his undergraduate degree in marketing and sales from Harding in 1992.

Thompson’s first coaching position came in a player-coach capacity in the Italian-American Professional Football League in 1990. The following season, Thompson was named as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.

Thompson and his wife, Monica, have two sons, Jaxson and Jacob.