The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
Thompson, Kenwick
Kenwick Thompson
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
- Email:
- kthomps6
- Phone:
- 975-9536
Updated April of 2024
Head Coach Trent Dilfer named Kenwick Thompson as the linebackers coach in July of 2023 and added the title of Assistant Head Coach in February of 2024. Thompson is in his second season with the Blazers.
In 2023, the UAB defense ranked 7th nationally in fumbles recovered (11) and finished with 21 takeaways total. Thompson’s unit was led by a pair of productive players in Michael Moore and Everett Roussaw Jr.
As a junior, Moore started the season at defensive end and moved to linebacker midway through the season. He was the team’s leading tackler until missing the final two games of the season, but still finished the year with 63 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, three QBH and one forced fumble.
Roussaw Jr. made immediate contributions as a true freshman, playing in all 12 games with eight starts. Roussaw continued to evolve as the season went along and finished the year with 50 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack, to go along with three PBU and a fumble recovery.
Thompson came to UAB after serving three seasons as the Associate Head Coach and linebackers coach at UNLV (2020-22). Prior to UNLV, Thompson spent the previous two seasons at Fresno State as the run game coordinator and linebackers coach under Jeff Tedford. That stint included winning the 2018 Mountain West Championship and Las Vegas Bowl behind the nation’s No. 3 scoring defense.
He previously spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at East Carolina, joining the Pirate staff after two seasons at Vanderbilt, where he served as an associate head coach and linebackers coach in 2015. Thompson headed to Vanderbilt after spending the 2013 season as defensive coordinator at San Jose State.
He coached under Tedford at California from 2007 to 2012, working as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach while playing a key role assisting the Golden Bears to four bowl appearances. During his first stint at San Jose State from 2001-06, 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, including the last five seasons as defensive coordinator. During the summer of 2000, he was a participant in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Oakland Raiders. After an all-conference playing career, Thompson graduated from Harding (Ark.) University in 1992.
Thompson has two sons, Jaxson and Jacob.
Head Coach Trent Dilfer named Kenwick Thompson as the linebackers coach in July of 2023 and added the title of Assistant Head Coach in February of 2024. Thompson is in his second season with the Blazers.
In 2023, the UAB defense ranked 7th nationally in fumbles recovered (11) and finished with 21 takeaways total. Thompson’s unit was led by a pair of productive players in Michael Moore and Everett Roussaw Jr.
As a junior, Moore started the season at defensive end and moved to linebacker midway through the season. He was the team’s leading tackler until missing the final two games of the season, but still finished the year with 63 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, three QBH and one forced fumble.
Roussaw Jr. made immediate contributions as a true freshman, playing in all 12 games with eight starts. Roussaw continued to evolve as the season went along and finished the year with 50 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack, to go along with three PBU and a fumble recovery.
Thompson came to UAB after serving three seasons as the Associate Head Coach and linebackers coach at UNLV (2020-22). Prior to UNLV, Thompson spent the previous two seasons at Fresno State as the run game coordinator and linebackers coach under Jeff Tedford. That stint included winning the 2018 Mountain West Championship and Las Vegas Bowl behind the nation’s No. 3 scoring defense.
He previously spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at East Carolina, joining the Pirate staff after two seasons at Vanderbilt, where he served as an associate head coach and linebackers coach in 2015. Thompson headed to Vanderbilt after spending the 2013 season as defensive coordinator at San Jose State.
He coached under Tedford at California from 2007 to 2012, working as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach while playing a key role assisting the Golden Bears to four bowl appearances. During his first stint at San Jose State from 2001-06, 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, including the last five seasons as defensive coordinator. During the summer of 2000, he was a participant in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Oakland Raiders. After an all-conference playing career, Thompson graduated from Harding (Ark.) University in 1992.
Thompson has two sons, Jaxson and Jacob.
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