The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
Thomas, Heath
Heath Thomas
- Title:
- Director of Player Development
- Email:
- hthomas@uab.edu
- Phone:
- 975-9536
Heath Thomas enters his seventh season at UAB and his third as the special teams coordinator. He previously served as the director of player development.
Thomas was a member of Bill Clark’s staff at UAB in 2014 and has been a part of Conference USA’s most successful program since returning to action in 2017 . In the last five years, UAB has won 43 games including three C-USA West Division titles (2018-2020) two Conference USA Championships and two bowl game victories.
In 2014, Thomas helped coach UAB record holder and current NFL kicker/punter Ty Long. Long holds multiple UAB school records, highlighted by career field goals made (59) and career points (322). Long’s excellent kicking in 2014 helped the Blazers to a 6-6 season, earning bowl eligibility for the first time in 10 years.
From 2017-19, Thomas was instrumental in the development of placekicker Nick Vogel. Vogel graduated with the fourth most made field goals in school history (47) and was 19-of-23 as a senior, which included making his final 11 field goal attempts. Vogel also finished his career with a touchback kickoff percentage of .690 (154-of-223).
In 2020, Thomas mentored placekicker Matt Quinn, who was named to the FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List in the midseason as well as earned an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention. Quinn connected on 11-of-12 field goals attempts, including three crucial makes in the C-USA Championship game. Thomas also oversaw Senior long snapper Jacob Fuqua, who earned First Team All-Conference USA, Phil Steel Fourth Team All-America Honors, and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award.
The 2020 season was also a big year for turnovers forced and recovered by the special teams. In nine games, the specialists recovered two fumbles (one each by long snapper Jacob Fuqua and punter Kyle Greenwell), and have forced one fumble by Jacob Fuqua.
Thomas has also guided punter Kyle Greenwell to UAB prominence. Greenwell enters his fifth year as a starter in 2022 and owns the career marks for most punts and most punt yards.
Prior to joining UAB, Thomas was on Clark’s staff at Jacksonville State in 2013 where he helped JSU to an 11-4 overall record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. Serving as the special teams graduate assistant, Thomas guided senior kicker Griffin Thomas to First Team All-America Honors as Thomas was a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, given the nation’s most outstanding FCS place kicker.
From 2011-13, Thomas was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at East Mississippi Community College. Thomas played an integral role in guiding the Lions to the 2011 NJCAA National Championship.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Thomas began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2010 as the special team assistant.
Thomas was a member of the Crimson Tide from 2006-09 and won the 2009 BCS National Championship with a victory over Texas in the Rose Bowl. He graduated from Alabama in 2009 with a degree in general health studies and earned his master’s in 2010 human environmental sciences/sport management.
Thomas and his wife Brittany, have one son, Truitt and one daughter, Turner.
Thomas was a member of Bill Clark’s staff at UAB in 2014 and has been a part of Conference USA’s most successful program since returning to action in 2017 . In the last five years, UAB has won 43 games including three C-USA West Division titles (2018-2020) two Conference USA Championships and two bowl game victories.
In 2014, Thomas helped coach UAB record holder and current NFL kicker/punter Ty Long. Long holds multiple UAB school records, highlighted by career field goals made (59) and career points (322). Long’s excellent kicking in 2014 helped the Blazers to a 6-6 season, earning bowl eligibility for the first time in 10 years.
From 2017-19, Thomas was instrumental in the development of placekicker Nick Vogel. Vogel graduated with the fourth most made field goals in school history (47) and was 19-of-23 as a senior, which included making his final 11 field goal attempts. Vogel also finished his career with a touchback kickoff percentage of .690 (154-of-223).
In 2020, Thomas mentored placekicker Matt Quinn, who was named to the FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List in the midseason as well as earned an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention. Quinn connected on 11-of-12 field goals attempts, including three crucial makes in the C-USA Championship game. Thomas also oversaw Senior long snapper Jacob Fuqua, who earned First Team All-Conference USA, Phil Steel Fourth Team All-America Honors, and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award.
The 2020 season was also a big year for turnovers forced and recovered by the special teams. In nine games, the specialists recovered two fumbles (one each by long snapper Jacob Fuqua and punter Kyle Greenwell), and have forced one fumble by Jacob Fuqua.
Thomas has also guided punter Kyle Greenwell to UAB prominence. Greenwell enters his fifth year as a starter in 2022 and owns the career marks for most punts and most punt yards.
Prior to joining UAB, Thomas was on Clark’s staff at Jacksonville State in 2013 where he helped JSU to an 11-4 overall record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. Serving as the special teams graduate assistant, Thomas guided senior kicker Griffin Thomas to First Team All-America Honors as Thomas was a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, given the nation’s most outstanding FCS place kicker.
From 2011-13, Thomas was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at East Mississippi Community College. Thomas played an integral role in guiding the Lions to the 2011 NJCAA National Championship.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Thomas began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2010 as the special team assistant.
Thomas was a member of the Crimson Tide from 2006-09 and won the 2009 BCS National Championship with a victory over Texas in the Rose Bowl. He graduated from Alabama in 2009 with a degree in general health studies and earned his master’s in 2010 human environmental sciences/sport management.
Thomas and his wife Brittany, have one son, Truitt and one daughter, Turner.
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