PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano announced the addition of alumnus and veteran high school head coach Dennis Thomas to the staff. A four-year letterwinner for the Scarlet Knights from 1998-2001 and winner of the Homer Hazel Award, Thomas will serve as an offensive assistant.

"It is great to have Dennis back home!" Schiano said. "He and his family are going to be a great addition to the Rutgers community."

Thomas most recently spent seven successful seasons as the head coach at Millville High School, posting a 52-24 mark. That included playoff berths in each of the six years held with five semifinal appearances. The Thunderbolts went 12-1 in 2021, winning the South Jersey Group IV and South/Central Regional titles, also claiming the South Jersey Group V championship in 2016, the first for the school since 1975. In 2017, he garnered the Award of Honor from the NJSIAA.

Thomas previously served as head coach for two seasons at his alma mater, Salem High School. Coming off a winless season before taking over, the Rams went 5-6 with an appearance in the South Jersey Group I semifinal in 2013 before improving to 8-4 and to the championship game the next season. Thomas also took part in coaching the USA Football U19 team as part of the IFAF World Championship in Kuwait in 2014.

A native of Salem, New Jersey, Thomas currently ranks ninth in Rutgers football history with 3,245 career all-purpose yards, including 1,557 rushing yards in leading the team in both 2000 and 2001. He totaled 1,173 kickoff return yards, also ninth-most in the program record books.

Thomas earned the Homer Hazel Award as the Rutgers football most valuable player in 2000 after recording 1,257 all-purpose yards. The running back ran for a career-high 177 yards in the 2001 win over Buffalo, Schiano's first game leading the Scarlet Knights. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs following his collegiate career.

Thomas and his wife, Shonta, have three children: Dennis, Xavier and Marshall. The family joins the Rutgers community after moving up from South Jersey.

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