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David Thorton

David Thornton

David Thornton is in his fifth year as a member of the Tiger coaching staff after returning to the University of West Alabama football program in the Spring of 2016. He coaches the Tiger tight ends after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons as the offensive line coach.
 
Thornton has tutored several all-conference and All-America offensive linemen over the last two seasons at UWA. Qua Boyd is a two-time All-American, All-Region, and All-GSC choice under Thornton’s guidance.
 
Thornton served as the head coach at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College for the last two seasons, where he posted a 7-11 record.
 
This is his second stint at UWA, where he was the offensive coordinator from 2001-04. IN his first stint at UWA, he coached two Harlon Hill South Regional finalists, three All-Americans, four All-South selections, and four All-Gulf South Conference players, including current head coach Brett Gilliland.
 
While Thornton was at UWA, the Tigers rewrote numerous school rushing, passing, and receiving marks. Their offense ranked fourth nationally in 2002 and 12th in 2003.
 
Prior to replacing Ray Perkins as head coach at JCJC, Thornton had served the previous two seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bobcats.
 
In 2013, the Bobcats offense averaged 40.6 points per game. Jones County passed for 327.5 yards per game, second in the MACJC and fourth in the MACJC. In addition, they rushed for 135.5 yards per game and averaged 463.0 yards per game, which was second in the MACJC and eighth in the NJCAA.
 
In 2012, the Bobcats averaged 32.8 points per game and 412.0 yards per game in Thornton’s first year as offensive coordinator.
 
A native of Vernon, Alabama, and a 1990 graduate of Lamar County High School, Thornton played quarterback for the University of the South (1990-92) in Sewanee, Tennessee. He finished his college career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (1992-95), where he was a running back for the Blazers. He also coached as a student and graduate assistant for the Blazers from 1994-98, working with the offensive line, tight ends, and running backs.
 
Thornton came to JCJC after four years as offensive coordinator at Southwest Mississippi. He was offensive coordinator at Northwest Mississippi from 2005-07. He served as offensive coordinator at Middle Georgia Junior College from 1998-2000. The Warriors were 27-8, won two NJCAA bowl games, and had two top-five national rankings during those three seasons.
 
He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UAB in 1995, and a master’s in 1998. Thornton and his wife, Tonya, have three children, Andrew, Carson, and Lizzie.
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