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2-10-06 - Joe Thomas Named Assistant Coach
Purdue head football coach Joe Tiller today announced the hiring of Joel
Thomas as an assistant coach. Thomas' specific duties have yet to be
determined.
Thomas previously was a member of the Purdue staff in 2000 and
2001 as a graduate assistant, working with the offensive line and tight
ends. He was hired for that position six years ago tomorrow.
"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to come back to
Purdue," Thomas said. "I've got so many memories from my first time
here, including going to the Rose Bowl, and I look forward to creating
more memories. At the same time, I have so much respect for Coach Tiller
and the way he runs his program."
Thomas returns to the Boilermakers after two years at Idaho as
co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach. In 2002 and 2003,
Thomas was running backs coach at Louisville. The Cardinals ranked 10th
nationally in rushing offense - averaging 228.2 yards per game - during
the 2003 season. Thomas had an additional stint at Idaho as running
backs coach in the spring of 2002.
"Joel did a great job as a graduate assistant here and has gone on
to cut his teeth in the coaching profession," Tiller said. "He's a
detail guy with a lot of energy, and we're thrilled to have him back at
Purdue."
Thomas was a running back at Idaho from 1995 to 1998. He is the
Vandals' career leader with 765 rushing attempts, 3,929 rushing yards
and 51 rushing touchdowns. As a senior, Thomas was named the Big West
Conference Player of the Year by the Football News. He received the
Humanitarian Award prior to the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, which Idaho won
in come-from-behind fashion over Southern Mississippi 42-35.
A native of Port Angeles, Wash., the 31-year-old Thomas
(born Nov. 7, 1974) earned a bachelor's degree in public communications
from Idaho in 1998. He is engaged to Ebbie Metzinger, a former pole
vaulter at Purdue who was the Big Ten outdoor champion in 2000 and 2002
and indoor champion in 2002.
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