Collins completes staff with hire of Thacker

Geoff Collins’ first staff at Temple is finally complete as Collins has pegged Kennesaw State linebackers coach Andrew Thacker for the same position on his staff Thacker's hiring was first reported by Marc Narducci of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Thacker comes to Temple after just a year as Kennesaw State’s linebacker coach. Prior to his time at the Big South school, the Georgia native served as safeties coach at Central Florida in 2015, a defensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 and safeties coach at Southern Mississippi in 2013. Before going to Southern Miss, Thacker spent two years as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State from 2011 through 2012.

Thacker’s time as safeties coach at UCF was not his first time as the school, as Thacker spent three years as a defensive graduate assistant there from 2008-2010. For the first two years of Thacker’s time in Orlando, Collins was the Knights’ linebackers coach.During Thacker’s time at UCF in 2015, he was tasked with recruiting Northern Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. Thacker played four years at Furman and was the 2004 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year.

With the hiring of Thacker, Collins filled his staff just in time for the recruiting dead period to end on Thursday. In addition to hiring Thacker, Collins also hired Dave Patenaude (offensive coordinator), Taver Johnson (defensive coordinator), Tony Lucas (running backs), Jim Panagos (defensive line), Cory Robinson (defensive backs), Josh Linam (defensive analyst) and Rob Calabrese (offensive analyst) since taking over as Temple’s coach in December. Collins also retained Ed Foley (tight ends), Chris Wiesehan (offensive line) and Frisman Jackson (wide receivers) from Matt Rhule’s staff.

Temple will host its second official visit weekend of the offseason this weekend.