Glenn Thomas named ASU football offensive coordinator, replaces Zak Hill

Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards has replaced offensive coordinator Zak Hill with former UNLV offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas.

Thomas will also serve as quarterbacks coach.

Hill resigned on Friday due to his role in the NCAA’s investigation of ASU regarding recruiting violations.

Thomas is the third offensive coordinator for Edwards since the head coach was hired before the 2018 season. He will take over an offense led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has played for the two prior OCs, Rob Likens (2018) and Hill (2020-21).

A Texas Tech product, the 44-year-old Thomas has experience in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons as offensive assistant (2008-11) and quarterbacks coach (2012-14) before a run in college since 2015.

“Glenn Thomas has spent the past 20 years working specifically with quarterbacks and coordinating offenses both in the NFL and in college football,” Edwards said in a release. “He is known around football circles for his expertise in quarterback play, with quarterback mechanics and getting them to play at their optimum level.

“His work with Matt Ryan in Atlanta speaks for itself as Matt enjoyed the best years of his career under Glenn. Also, he’s worked with young quarterbacks in college and has made them highly successful. I am pleased to welcome Glenn to Tempe and excited to have him coordinate our offense.”

Following his time in Atlanta, Thomas was quarterbacks coach at Temple for a year in 2015 before he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2016. He then worked as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Baylor Bears from 2017-19.

The past two years, Thomas held the OC and QB coach titles at UNLV under head coach Marcus Arroyo.

“I am beyond fired up and humbled to be a part of a top-tier program at a top-tier university,” Thomas said in a release. “A great foundation has been laid at ASU and I am proud to be able to help build upon that. I’m appreciative of Coach Edwards, (offensive analyst) Brian Billick and (vice president for university athletics) Ray Anderson for this opportunity and to work side-by-side with them. I can’t wait to get into the QB room and go to work with the Sun Devil offense.”

Billick, a recent hire himself, had a strong say in ASU adding Thomas, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro. Billick is friends with former Falcons head coach Mike Smith, who worked with Thomas.

Thomas got his start as a student assistant at Texas Tech in 1998 before becoming moving up the hierarchy at Midwestern State from 2001-2007, where he became offensive coordinator for the first time in 2005.

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