Sacramento State

Kenwick Thompson returned to his home state of California in December 2025 as he was named the assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Sacramento State.
 
Thompson came to the Hornets after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Florida A&M in 2025.
 
Thompson was previously the linebackers coach at UAB. He began his tenure with the Blazers as the linebackers coach in 2023 and added the role of assistant head coach in 2024.
 
In 2023, the UAB defense ranked seventh nationally in fumbles recovered (11) and finished with 21 takeaways total. Thompson’s unit was led by a pair of productive players in Michael Moore and Everett Roussaw, Jr.
 
As a junior, Moore started the season at defensive end and moved to linebacker midway through the season. He was the team’s leading tackler until missing the final two games of the season, but still finished the year with 63 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, three QBH and one forced fumble.
 
Roussaw made immediate contributions as a true freshman, playing in all 12 games with eight starts. Roussaw continued to evolve as the season went along and finished the year with 50 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack, to go along with three PBU and a fumble recovery.  
 
Thompson came to UAB after serving three seasons as the associate head coach and linebackers coach at UNLV (2020-22). Prior to UNLV, Thompson spent the previous two seasons at Fresno State as the defensive run game coordinator and linebackers coach under Jeff Tedford. That stint included winning the 2018 Mountain West Championship and Las Vegas Bowl behind the nation’s third-ranked scoring defense.

He previously spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at East Carolina, joining the Pirate staff after two seasons at Vanderbilt, where he served as an associate head coach and linebackers coach in 2015. Thompson headed to Vanderbilt after spending the 2013 season as defensive coordinator at San Jose State.
 
He coached under Tedford at California from 2007 to 2012, working as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach while playing a key role assisting the Golden Bears to four bowl appearances. During his first stint at San Jose State from 2001-06, Thompson served in a variety of coaching roles under head coaches Fitz Hill and Dick Tomey. His positions included linebackers coach (2001-03), defensive line coach (2004), defensive tackles coach (2006), recruiting coordinator (2001-2004) and head strength and conditioning coach (2005).

From 1994 to 2000, Thompson was on the coaching staff at Texas Southern, including the last five seasons as defensive coordinator. During the summer of 2000, he was a participant in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Oakland Raiders. After an all-conference playing career, Thompson graduated from Harding (Ark.) in 1992.
 
After an all-conference playing career, Thompson graduated from Harding (Ark.) University in 1992. He has two sons, Jaxson and Jacob.
 
Coaching Experience
2025: Florida A&M (Def. Coordinator/Linebackers)
2023-24: UAB (Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers)
2020-22: UNLV (Assoc. Head Coach/Linebackers)
2018-19: Fresno State (Linebackers)
2016-17: East Carolina (Def. Coordinator)
2014-15: Vanderbilt (Linebackers)
2013: San Jose State (Def. Coordinator/Linebackers)
2007-12: California (Assoc. Head Coach (’12)/Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)?
2006: San Jose State (Def. Tackles)?
2005: San Jose State (Strength and Conditioning Coach)
2004: San Jose State (Def. Line Coach/co-Recruiting Coordinator)
2002-03: San Jose State (Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
2001: San Jose State (Linebackers)?
1996-2000: Texas Southern (Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coordinator)?
1995: Texas Southern (Def. Line /Recruiting Coordinator)
1994: Texas Southern (Running Backs)?
1991-92: Harding (Graduate Assistant)