BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff player and coach is among the SWAC West Division’s new head coaches this season.
Alcorn State named Cedric Thomas its new head coach this offseason, but this isn’t his first time being a head coach in the SWAC. Thomas served as UAPB head coach from 2018-19.
Thomas inherited a UAPB team which had, at the time, only managed more than two wins in a season once since the 2012 SWAC championship year. The Golden Lions went 2-9 in Thomas’ first season but improved to 6-5 in his second, their first winning record in seven years.
He said his time leading the Golden Lions taught him to trust the process.
“We was 2-9, nobody gave us a chance,” Thomas said. “Then the next year, we had a winning season because of the implementation of the system, not wavering from it. Ultimately, just trusting the process, be in service of these student-athletes. Put them in the best position to be successful, and then also, making sure that we can just give them a mission and a vision, and stay true to it.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Thomas is also a 2001 UAPB graduate. After beginning his college playing career at Mississippi Delta Community College, he played his final two seasons in Pine Bluff. He then began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alcorn the following season.
He said his time in Pine Bluff meant everything to him.
“I was just talking … about the community and how it helped raise me and get me where I am today,” Thomas said. “It’s really a blessing, man. I still keep in contact with some of those guys over there. They call and check up on me, and I do the same. I wouldn’t be where I am without Pine Bluff.”
After nine seasons in the junior college ranks, Thomas returned to Alcorn as defensive backs coach in 2012 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2016. After his stint at UAPB as head coach, he spent one year on staff at Southern Miss and one year as head coach of Mississippi Delta before returning to Alcorn as defensive coordinator in 2022.
Current UAPB head coach Alonzo Hampton said when he was a defensive coach at UAPB between 2006-2011, he recruited some of Thomas’ junior college players at Mississippi Delta, and the two have kept in touch since.
“(Thomas is) a really good person, and I’m happy that he’s been able to get back, now he’s a head coach again,” Hampton said. “The players said he did a good job when he was at UAPB.”
Thomas isn’t the only new head coach in the SWAC West. Southern, Texas Southern and Grambling State all have new head coaches entering this season, as well.
Southern, like Alcorn, made an internal hire by promoting special teams coordinator Terrence Graves. Grambling State hired former Nebraska associate head coach Mickey Joseph, and Texas Southern hired former Houston Oilers player Cris Dishman.
Hampton and Prairie View A&M coach Bubba McDowell are the only returning head coaches in the division, though both hired new offensive coordinators.
Dishman said all the new coaches will make the West Division race interesting.
“Bubba McDowell has won last year, and everyone’s fighting to get where he’s at,” Dishman said. “He’s on top. He’s fighting to stay on top, and we’re fighting to get there.”