Andrew Thacker

Andrew Thacker currently fulfills off-field duties for Georgia Tech football.

In four full seasons as the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator (2019-22), Thacker’s defenses produced 12 all-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, including five in 2022 (LB David Curry – 2019, CB Tre Swilling – 2019, Curry – 2020, DT Djimon Brooks – 2021, LB Charlie Thomas – 2021, 2022 and CB Juanyeh Thomas – 2021, LB Ayinde Eley – 2022, DB LaMiles Brooks – 2022, DL Keion White – 2022 and DB Zamari Walton – 2022). Additionally, five of his pupils (DB Jaytlin Askew, DB Tariq Carpenter, Curry, Swilling and J. Thomas) have gone on to sign National Football League contracts. Carpenter became the first defensive player drafted out of Tech in six years when the Green Bay Packers selected him in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Thacker came to The Flats from Temple, where he served for two seasons, including one as defensive coordinator. In his lone season as Temple’s defensive coordinator, the Owls scored eight defensive touchdowns (No. 1 nationally), forced 31 turnovers (No. 3 nationally), recovered 13 fumbles (No. 3 nationally) and intercepted 18 passes (No. 4 nationally).

Thacker, an Atlanta-area native (Cartersville, Ga.) played collegiately at Furman (2004-07). He and his wife, Liza, have a daughter, Caroline, and two sons, Bear and Jack.

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Andrew Thacker currently fulfills off-field duties for Georgia Tech football.

In four full seasons as the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator (2019-22), Thacker’s defenses produced 12 all-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, including five in 2022 (LB David Curry – 2019, CB Tre Swilling – 2019, Curry – 2020, DT Djimon Brooks – 2021, LB Charlie Thomas – 2021, 2022 and CB Juanyeh Thomas – 2021, LB Ayinde Eley – 2022, DB LaMiles Brooks – 2022, DL Keion White – 2022 and DB Zamari Walton – 2022). Additionally, five of his pupils (DB Jaytlin Askew, DB Tariq Carpenter, Curry, Swilling and J. Thomas) have gone on to sign National Football League contracts. Carpenter became the first defensive player drafted out of Tech in six years when the Green Bay Packers selected him in the 2022 NFL Draft.

As a unit, Thacker’s Tech aggressive and opportunistic defenses ranked among the nation’s top 25 defensively in multiple categories, including last season when Tech was ranked in the top 15 in turnovers gained and top 10 in fumbles recovered and blocked kicks. Last season marked the third-straight year Thacker’s aggressive defense was in the top 25 in fumble recoveries, while boasting top-25 rankings in defensive touchdowns in two of the past three seasons. The Yellow Jackets also ranked among the top 25 nationally in total turnovers in 2020 and were among the top 40 nationally in pass defense and red-zone defense in 2019.

A metro-Atlanta native (Cartersville, Ga.), Thacker came to The Flats after two seasons on the staff at Temple.

After originally joining Temple’s staff as linebackers coach in 2017, Thacker was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018 . With Thacker as coordinator, Temple’s defense scored eight defensive touchdowns (No. 1 nationally), forced 31 turnovers (No. 3 nationally), recovered 13 turnovers (No. 3 nationally) and intercepted 18 passes (No. 4 nationally) in 2018.

Thacker helped produce one of the AAC’s highest-ranked defenses during his one season as the defensive coordinator at Temple. In addition to ranking among the nation’s top three teams in defensive touchdowns, turnovers, fumble recoveries and interceptions, the Owls were among the AAC’s top three teams in total defense (second), passing defense (second), three-and-outs (second) and scoring defense (third). As linebackers coach in 2017, he helped TU rank among the top teams nationally in both sacks (11th) and tackles for loss (11th).

Prior to his two seasons at Temple, Thacker spent the 2016 season in the Atlanta area as linebackers coach at Kennesaw State, where he helped the Owls lead the Big South in scoring defense and rushing defense and rank second in total defense.

His career also includes stints as a full-time assistant at UCF (2015 – safeties) and Southern Miss (2013 – safeties). He has also served as a defensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons (2014), a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State (2010-12 – linebackers) and a graduate assistant at UCF (2008-09 – linebackers).

Thacker was a four-year starter at safety at Furman (2004-07), where he was named the 2004 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. He graduated from Furman in 2007 with bachelor’s degrees in political science and Spanish. He and his wife, Liza, have a daughter, Caroline, and two sons, Bear and Jack.