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Report: Maryland assistant, former Florida coach expected to step down

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle•02/17/22•

NikkiChavanelle

The Maryland Terrapins coaching staff is getting a shakeup. Special teams coordinator Ron Zook is stepping down from his role, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. Zook has been at Maryland for three seasons and added associate head coach to his title ahead of the 2021 season.

Head coach Mike Locksley is likely bringing former Zook assistant James Thomas Jr. back from Florida, where he accepted a position last month. Thomas served as a special teams analyst at Maryland before taking the quality control coach position to work with Gators cornerbacks. He was working with cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond in Gainesville.

Zook has been the head coach at Florida and Illinois in his 43 seasons in coaching. He also held coordinator roles in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and most recently as the special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2015-18. 

Zook and Locksley formed a relationship when Locksley served as Zook’s running backs coach/run game coordinator at Florida in 2003-04. He was also offensive coordinator at Illinois from 2005-08. In 2007, the two led the Fighting Illini to a 9-4 record and the program’s first Rose Bowl berth since 1983.

James Thomas Jr. likely heading back to Maryland

Prior to his time in Maryland, James Thomas Jr. coached at the DII level. He served two seasons (2019-20) as co-defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and defensive backs coach at Angelo State University. The Rams defense was one of the top-performing units among Division II schools. They ranked third nationally in scoring defense (14.8 PPG), fifth in defensive pass efficiency (93.17), and 10th in interceptions (17).

Thomas Jr. also spent three seasons at Clarion University (2016-18), where he served as the Golden Eagles defensive coordinator. A native of Orlando, Fla., Thomas Jr. started his career at Western New Mexico in 2010. There he coached the receivers his first two seasons (2010-11). He also served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach (2012-13), and defensive coordinator (2014-15).