Marshall Names Thielen Smith Defensive Line Coach

5/3/2005

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University head football coach Mark Snyder completed his coaching staff with the hiring of Thielen Smith as the Thundering Herd’s new defensive line coach Tuesday.

“He is an outstanding recruiter who relates well to parents and kids,” Snyder said. “Everyone I have talked to has said that Marshall is getting a great football coach and a real steal in Thielen Smith. He is an excellent addition to our staff.”

Smith, 51, comes to Marshall after serving as an assistant coach at Clemson University for the last six seasons. He was responsible for the defensive interior linemen for the Tigers between 1999 and 2003, and oversaw Clemson’s Whip linebackers and rovers in 2004.

Prior to his time at Clemson, Smith served as the defensive line coach at Tulane (1995-98), the defensive line coach at Louisiana-Monroe from (1993, 1994), the inside linebackers coach at Louisiana State (1991, 1992), the linebackers and defensive line coach at Tulane (1985-90), and as defensive line coach at Louisiana-Lafayette (1979-84). During his collegiate coaching career he has participated in seven bowl games with the most recent being the 2004 Peach Bowl.

Smith (whose first name is pronounced THI-lihn) played linebacker at LSU and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from the school in 1977. During his senior season, he recorded a career high 62 tackles, including four for losses. He played on two bowl teams at LSU, including the 1973 team that earned a berth in the Orange Bowl.

Smith is married to the former Gail Scott and the couple has six children, Toyah (27), Keisha (22), Terrance (22), Temetria (17), Vincent (16), and Shaun (16).