Tramain Thomas joined Missouri State’s coaching staff in November 2020 as the Bears defensive backs coach, ultimately taking over the safeties group in 2023.
A year ago (2024), the Bears secondary helped the squad post 12 interceptions, 20 takeaways and secure the 21st-best turnover margin (+0.58) in the country.
In 2023, the Bears’ defense posted 14 takeaways, 41 points off turnovers, 60 passes defended and 17 sacks while holding its opponents under 400 total yards three times over the last six games. Free safety Todric McGee earned second-team All-MVFC honors after racking up 102 total stops, while strong safety P.J. Hall was third on the team in total stops with 62, both starting all 11 games at safety.
For Thomas’ third season with MoState in 2022, Montrae Braswell once again earned All-MVFC first-team honors and signed a free agent agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs at the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft. The MSU secondary helped the Bears defense rack up 15 takeaways and 18 sacks on the season, many of which were created by the secondary’s lock-down coverage.
In 2021, MoState racked up 15 interceptions to finish 14th among all FCS programs, while its 25 forced turnovers ranked the Bears No. 9 nationally.
In 2020-21, the Bears led the MVFC in defensive third-down percentage (.287) thanks in part to an exemplary secondary full of playmakers.
Thomas, who was most-recently the cornerbacks coach at Oklahoma Baptist, was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference defensive back at Arkansas under coach Bobby Petrino from 2008-11.
He 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.
He 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.
