In his first season as defensive coordinator, Thom Kaumeyer reshaped the Hawai‘i defense. Despite a 3-9 record, the Rainbow Warriors ranked among the Top 10 nationally in passing defense (11th), allowing 182.8 yards per game and finishing 41st in total defense (372.9), their highest ranking since 2007.
Kaumeyer came to UH with more than 20 years of combined collegiate and professional football coaching experience, most recently four seasons at the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. His previous collegiate experience included defensive coordinator at Tulane and defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at San Diego State. He also spent two seasons as defensive quality control coach with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
The Encinitas, Calif., native coached at Jacksonville, where he assisted with the defensive backs from 2008-11. While there, he directed the development of 2009 draft pick Derek Cox, who led the team in interceptions in each of his first two seasons. The Jaguars improved defensively from 28th in 2010 to sixth in 2011, the second-largest improvement in the NFL, and improved in nearly every statistical category from the previous season. The 2011 defense allowed 313.0 yards per game, the fewest since 2006.
After spending one season at Tulane, Kaumeyer joined Rich Brooks’ Kentucky Wildcats for a few weeks before taking the position at Jacksonville.
In his one season at Tulane, Kaumeyer helped turn around the Green Wave defense, improving their national ranking in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense from the previous season.
From 2002-06, Kaumeyer was the defensive coordinator at San Diego State, where the Aztecs produced one of the best defenses in the Mountain West Conference. During his first year with SDSU, he orchestrated the biggest defensive improvement in the country from 95th in 2002 to eighth in ’03. In 2004, the Aztecs ranked in the Top 50 nationally in three team defensive categories and finished second in the MWC in red-zone defense each of the last two seasons.
Prior to SDSU, Kaumeyer spent two seasons on the Atlanta Falcons staff (2000-01), serving in all facets of the defensive game plan as the assistant secondary coach.
Previously, Kaumeyer worked at Palomar College as both defensive coordinator and special teams coach from 1998-2000. It was his second stint at Palomar and in between, spent two years in Tokyo, Japan, where he was the head coach and oversaw football operations for Onward Kashiyama, Ltd., in 1995 and ’96.
His first stint at Palomar began in 1991, where he would gradually work his way up to the head coach position in his final season of 1994. Kaumeyer led the Comets to a record of 8-3 and ranked No. 18 nationally by JC Grid-Wire.
As a player, Kaumeyer was an All-American safety at Palomar before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he played two seasons and earned all-Pac-10 honors. As a safety, Kaumeyer was drafted by the L.A. Rams in 1989 and also played with Seattle (1989-90) and the New York Giants (1991-93).
He received his bachelor’s degree in American studies from Regents University in Albany, N.Y., in 1993, and later earned a master’s degree in education at Azusa Pacific in 1998. Kaumeyer resides in Honolulu.
The Kaumeyer File
Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.
Education
Regents University, 1993, Bachelor’s in American Studies
Azusa Pacific, 1998, Master’s in Education
Playing Experience
1991-93: New York (NFL), Safety
1989-90: Seattle (NFL), Safety
1989: Los Angeles (NFL), Safety
1987-88: Oregon, Safety
1985-86: Palomar, Safety
Coaching Experience
2012-: Hawai‘i, Defensive Coordinator
2008-11: Jacksonville (NFL), Assistant Defensive Backs
2007: Tulane, Defensive Coordinator
2002-06: San Diego State, Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs
2000-01: Atlanta (NFL), Defensive Quality Control
1998-2000: Palomar, Defensive Coordinator / Special Teams
1995-96: Onward Kashiyamam LTD. In Tokyo, Head Coach
1991-94: Palomar, Assistant Coach
