Alabama analyst set to be hired as position coach at Conference USA program, per report
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Alabama is reportedly losing one of its staff members – and someone who has worked for Kalen DeBoer at Washington and in Tuscaloosa — to a Conference USA team.
Cole Thomas, an analyst with the Crimson Tide, is set to be hired as the tight ends and inside receivers coach at Louisiana Tech. That’s according to a Tuesday report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
According to his LinkedIn bio, Thomas began coaching as an undergrad assistant at his alma mater, Texas Tech, where he played offensive tackle. He then became a graduate assistant at Abilene Christian in 2022 before joining DeBoer’s staff at Washington as an offensive assistant in 2023. When DeBoer was hired to succeed Nick Saban at Alabama, he brought Thomas with him.
In Ruston, Thomas will reunite with Sonny Cumbie. The La. Tech head coach was Texas Tech’s offensive coordinator in 2021, Thomas’s senior season.
Under Cumbie, the Bulldogs have seen incremental improvement, from three wins in both 2022 and 2023 and five wins in 2024 to an eight-win campaign in 2025. They also won their first bowl game since 2019.
The 2026 season will mark La. Tech’s final in C-USA as it prepares to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2027.
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Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
