Previously a member of Azusa Pacific's football staff, Jacob Thomas joined the Aggies in January 2021 to serve as a member of the quality control staff. He will oversee the offensive line.
Thomas previously served as run game coordinator and offensive line coach at APU, then left the program when the university discontinued the football program. He then served as a graduate assistant at Hawai'i, working with an O-line that previously had one of the Football Bowl Subdivision's top passing games.
A 2014 graduate of APU, Thomas played for the Cougars under the tutelage of head coach Victor Santa Cruz and offensive line coach (and Pro Football Hall of Famer) Jackie Slater. Although he started 28 games in his career, the early going was beset by injury: Thomas was a regular starter in 2010, then sat out the entire 2011 season. He returned to action as the opening-week starter against UC Davis – only to suffer a season-ending injury in that game and earn a medical hardship waiver for 2012.
Thomas returned to action yet again as a fourth-year sophomore, starting seven games in 2013, 11 in 2014 and seven more in 2015. During that time, he blocked for All-American running back Terrell Watson, who rushed for 2,153 yards. During this time, Thomas earned his undergraduate degree in applied health with an emphasis in physical therapy, then added a master's degree in leadership with an emphasis in sport management and integrated leadership in 2017.
Thomas originally hails from Oceanside, Calif. and El Camino High School (class of 2010). He now resides in Davis with his fiancée, Katie.
