A veteran of the NFL and collegiate coaching ranks, Dennis Thurman enters his third season as the defensive coordinator for the Hawai‘i football program in 2026.
YEARS COACHING
Hawai‘i: 3rd Season
Overall: 37th Season
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Hawai‘i, Defensive Coordinator, Cornerbacks (2024-)
Colorado, Director of Quality Control (2023)
Jackson State, Defensive Coordinator (2020-2022)
Memphis Express (AAF), Defensive Coordinator, Cornerbacks (2018)
Buffalo Bills, Defensive Coordinator (2015-2016)
New York Jets, Defensive Coordinator (2013-14); Secondary (2009-12)
Baltimore Ravens, Defensive Backs (2004-07), Defensive Assistant (2002-03)
USC, Secondary (1993-2000)
Ohio Glory (WFL), Defensive Coordinator (1992)
Phoenix Cardinals, Defensive Backs (1988-1989)
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
- More than three decades of coaching acumen at both the collegiate and professional levels.
- UH has ranked in the top half of the Mountain West in scoring defense each of his first two seasons leading the defense. The team finished no higher than ninth each of the three years prior to his arrival in 2024.
- Helped guide the Rainbow Warriors to a 9-4 season and Sheraton Hawai‘i bowl victory in 2025.
- Nine Warriors have earned All-Mountain West recognitions in his first two seasons on the UH staff.
- In his most recent stint as a defensive coordinator, guided a Jackson State squad that ranked in the FCS Top 10 in a dozen defensive categories as the Tigers enjoyed unprecedented success with a combined 23-3 record in back-to-back seasons.
- Has spent more than half of his coaching career in the NFL where he was a part of four organizations - including two as defensive coordinator.
- As secondary coach at Baltimore, coached Ed Reed who won 2004 Defensive Player of the Year honors en route to a Hall of Fame career.
- Also helped develop a multitude of other NFL standouts in the secondary including Hall of Famer Darelle Revis and All-Pro Stephon Gilmore.
- In his first collegiate coaching job at his alma mater USC, helped the Trojans to three straight bowl games and three straight Top 25 finishes while mentoring nearly a half-dozen future NFL defensive backs.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
St. Louis Cardinals, 1986
Dallas Cowboys, 1978-1985
USC, 1974-1977
PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS
- Named to the College Football Hall Of Fame’s Class of 2026.
- Never missed a contest in his nine-year, 137-game professional career.
- Played in Super Bowl XII as a rookie and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1981.
- Tallied 36 career interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries and scored five touchdowns during his career.
- A two time All-American at USC and part of the 1974 national championship team.
ALMA MATER
USC (1977)
HOMETOWN
Los Angeles, Calif
