Thigpen, Lolley fill out Auburn's coaching staff

It took him 62 days since his introductory press conference, but Gene Chizik, a self-proclaimed non-multi-tasker, has filled out his coaching staff.

North Carolina assistant Tommy Thigpen and Auburn director of NFL operations Phillip Lolley will take over as coaches in the secondary, the university confirmed in a release Sunday evening.

The release did not specify the coaches’ specific positions, but it is expected that Thigpen will supervise the safeties while Lolley will handle cornerbacks.

In light of the moves, defensive coordinator Ted Roof will be the overseer of Auburn’s linebackers.

“I’m very pleased to complete my staff with the additions of Phillip Lolley and Tommy Thigpen as secondary coaches,” Chizik said in a university release.

Chizik scored another one of the nation’s top, young recruiters in Thigpen.

A 38-year-old Virginia native, Thigpen was named a Rivals.com Top 25 recruiter in 2007 and 2009. The Tar Heels just put the wraps on the eighth-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to Rivals, and Thigpen had a hand in landing six four-star recruits.

“Tommy has had a tremendous amount of success at every stop he’s made as an assistant coach,” Chizik said. “I’ve been well aware of him since his days as a standout player at North Carolina and have followed his professional career very closely. I’m extremely pleased to be adding someone with his professionalism and coaching expertise to this staff.”

Thigpen spent the past four years as the linebackers coach at North Carolina, his alma mater. He began his coaching career there in 1998 as a graduate assistant. The three-time all-ACC linebacker moved on to coach linebackers at Tennessee State in 2000, cornerbacks and special teams at Bowling Green from 2001-02, cornerbacks at Illinois in 2003 and was moved to linebackers with the Illini for the 2004 season.

Thigpen played professionally for the New York Giants in 1993-94 and the Barcelona Dragons in 1995-96.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work at a tradition-rich program like Auburn and for an outstanding coach in Gene Chizik,” Thigpen said in the statement. “It was a tough decision to leave my alma mater, but this is a great step for me professionally. I’ve known Ted Roof from his days in the
ACC and played for (former UNC and current Texas head coach) Mack Brown, so I’m very familiar with the outstanding coaches that are in place at
Auburn. I can’t wait to get started and look forward to joining the Auburn family.”

Lolley, meanwhile, took a much different journey to his new position.

A longtime Alabama high school coach, Lolley, 55, joined the Auburn staff in 1999 as a conditioning coach. He moved over to the secondary from 2000-03 before taking over as the Director of NFL Relations in 2004.

Chizik and Lolley coached side-by-side in 2002 and 2003 before Tommy Tuberville shook up his staff of assistants for the undefeated 2004 season.
Tuberville took an assistant spot away from the defense when he shifted Steve Ensminger from co-offensive coordinator to tight ends coach and brought in Al Borges as the new OC, which moved Lolley to a more administrative role.

“I coached side-by-side with Phillip when I was defensive coordinator at Auburn and it was very evident that he’s a great coach,” Chizik said. “He’s been successful at every level and he will also be a valuable asset because of his strong relationships with high school programs and coaches in the state of Alabama.”

Lolley, along with Director of Football Operations Jimmy Perry and former linebackers coach Joe Whitt, helped Chizik shore up the 2009 recruiting class in the immediate days following Chizik’s arrival.

“It was a great experience working with Coach Chizik during his previous tenure at Auburn,” Lolley said in the statement. “He had the nation’s top defense in 2004 and I look forward to working with Ted Roof to help return the Auburn defense to one of the best in the country. I’m pleased to be back on the field as part of the Auburn family and am very excited to start back recruiting the great state of Alabama.”

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Auburn’s Coaching Staff
Offensive coordinator: Gus Malzahn
Running backs and recruiting coordinator: Curtis Luper
Tight ends and special teams coordinator: Jay Boulware
WR and assistant head coach: Trooper Taylor
Defensive coordinator/linebackers: Ted Roof
Defensive line: Tracy Rocker
Offensive line: Jeff Grimes
Cornerbacks: Phillip Lolley
Safeties: Tommy Thigpen