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- Spent last four seasons in the SEC at Auburn, winning the 2010 season BCS Championship
- Coached and played in six bowl games in his career
- Worked as Tigers' linebackers coach in 2012 after serving as safeties coach from 2009-11
- Helped Auburn to ninth-best rushing defense in the NCAA in 2010 (109.1 yards per game)
- Came to Auburn after working four seasons at his alma mater, North Carolina from 2005-08, where he was the Tar Heels' linebackers coach
- Named one of the nation's Top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com in 2007
- Coached at Illinois for two seasons as linebackers coach in 2004 and cornerbacks coach in 2003
- Spent 2001 and 2002 at Bowling Green as the Falcons cornerbacks and special teams coach
- First full-time coaching job came as linebackers coach at Tennessee State in 2000
- Served as a graduate assistant at North Carolina from 1998-99
- After an All-ACC career at UNC, was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1993 draft
- Also played for the Barcelona Dragons in the World League of American Football in 1995-96
- Won four letters as a linebacker with UNC and served as team captain as a senior in 1992
- Thigpen and his wife Jacinda have two children, Asia (7) and Naja (2)
