Jonathan Thompson began as the defensive line coach in February 2014. He previously spent six seasons as defensive line coach at Jackson State University. Thompson joined the JSU coaching staff after spending a season at Savannah State University (GA), where he was the defensive line coach. Under Thompson's leadership defensive lineman Marcus Benard set JSU's single season sack record in 2008. In 2009 Terrance Oniuke was second on the team in tackles and an All-SWAC Second Team selection. In 2012, Joseph LeBeau was ranked second in the SWAC in sacks with (10) and Jonathan Billups was ranked fifth in the league with six.
Prior to his stint at Savannah State, he was the defensive line coach at Central State University in Wilberforce, OH from 2004-2005. From 2001-2002 he was the defensive line coach with the Dayton Skyhawks (Indoor Arena Football). Thompson also worked as a student assistant defensive line coach at Tuskegee University from 1998-1999.
As a student-athlete Thompson anchored the defensive line when the Central State Marauders won the 1995 NAIA National Football Championship. He was named Second Team All-NAIA at Central State in 1995, and Second Team All-SIAC when he played for Tuskegee in 1997.
Thompson, a native of Miami, Florida, is a 2000 graduate of Central State where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in heath and recreation.
Thompson has contributed his success to his mother Cassandra McKenzie. He is married to the former Trista Williamson and has one daughter, Alexis, and one son, Jonathan Thompson, Jr.
