Andrew Thacker

Position: Safeties Coach

Follow @_CoachThacker

Andrew Thacker joins coach Todd Monken's first staff at Southern Miss after spending the previous three seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma State.

While with the Cowboys, Thacker assisted with the development of the linebacker corps, including Caleb Lavey and Shaun Lewis to All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in 2012.

Prior to joining the staff in Stillwater, Thacker spent two seasons with UCF after his playing career at Furman was over.

Collegiately, Thacker was a four-year letterwinner at Furman as a safety and was named the 2004 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. The Paladians were 35-15 during his four-year career and made three NCAA FCS playoff appearances, including a semifinal run in 2005.

Thacker earned his undergraduate degree from the university in political science and Spanish. He also earned spots on the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll all four years and was a GTE Academic All-District honoree in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

A native of Cumming, Ga., Thacker is the son of Mickey Thacker and step-parents Donna and Bruce Miller. He is married to the former Liza Calhoun.