Thomas Joins Missouri State Football Staff
November 17, 2020 | Football
SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State football coach Bobby Petrino announced Nov. 17 the hiring of Tramain Thomas as the Bears new defensive backs coach.
Thomas, who was most-recently the cornerbacks coach at Oklahoma Baptist, was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference defensive back at Arkansas under Petrino from 2008-11.
Thomas also worked under Petrino at the University of Louisville where he served as a defensive quality control coach for nickelbacks and cornerbacks during the 2018 season.
"It's great to have him here," Petrino said of his former player. "He was such a great player with great leadership and work ethic. He's a great teacher and a perfectionist, and it's fun to watch that carry over now for him as a coach."
Thomas previously served two seasons coaching defensive backs as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State where he was instrumental in leading the Mustangs to a conference title in 2017, while helping the unit finish fifth nationally in red zone defense and first in the conference in scoring defense.
The Winnie, Texas, native began his coaching career as a defensive backs coach at East Chambers High School in his hometown.
A four-year letter winner at Arkansas, Thomas was named a Yahoo! Sports All-American in 2011 after finishing second on the team with 91 tackles and a team-best five interceptions. He was tabbed a second-team All-SEC selection in 2010, an honorable mention All-SEC pick in 2011, and the Most Outstanding Player in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl. Thomas was a three-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week honoree and was on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list during the 2011 season.
Following his successful collegiate career, Thomas signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. He later played one season in the Arena Football League with the Iowa Barnstormers.
Thomas is currently working on his master's degree in sport administration from Midwestern State University after graduating with his bachelor's degree in criminology from Arkansas in 2013.
Thomas, who was most-recently the cornerbacks coach at Oklahoma Baptist, was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference defensive back at Arkansas under Petrino from 2008-11.
Thomas also worked under Petrino at the University of Louisville where he served as a defensive quality control coach for nickelbacks and cornerbacks during the 2018 season.
"It's great to have him here," Petrino said of his former player. "He was such a great player with great leadership and work ethic. He's a great teacher and a perfectionist, and it's fun to watch that carry over now for him as a coach."
Thomas previously served two seasons coaching defensive backs as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State where he was instrumental in leading the Mustangs to a conference title in 2017, while helping the unit finish fifth nationally in red zone defense and first in the conference in scoring defense.
The Winnie, Texas, native began his coaching career as a defensive backs coach at East Chambers High School in his hometown.
A four-year letter winner at Arkansas, Thomas was named a Yahoo! Sports All-American in 2011 after finishing second on the team with 91 tackles and a team-best five interceptions. He was tabbed a second-team All-SEC selection in 2010, an honorable mention All-SEC pick in 2011, and the Most Outstanding Player in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl. Thomas was a three-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week honoree and was on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list during the 2011 season.
Following his successful collegiate career, Thomas signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. He later played one season in the Arena Football League with the Iowa Barnstormers.
Thomas is currently working on his master's degree in sport administration from Midwestern State University after graduating with his bachelor's degree in criminology from Arkansas in 2013.
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