Thomas Sheffield enters his fifth season as the Hawai‘i special teams coordinator in 2026.
YEARS COACHING
Hawai‘i: 5th Season
Overall: 15th Season
ALMA MATER
Sam Houston State, B.S., Kinesiology (2012)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Hawai‘i, Assistant Head Coach (2022-23), Special Teams Coordinator (2022-)
Nevada, Special Teams Coordinator (2020-21)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Special Teams Coordinator (2017-19)
North Texas, Special Teams, Offensive Graduate Assistant (2015-16)
Mary Hardin-Baylor, Running Backs, Special Teams, Tight Ends, Inside Receivers, Recruiting Coordinator (2012-14)
Sam Houston State, Offensive Quality Control (2011)
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
- Entering his fifth season as special teams coordinator in 2025.
- Led kicker Kansei Matsuzawa to becoming the first Consensus All-American in program history in 2025.
- Also helped Matsuzawa become UH’s second-ever Lou Groza Award finalist.
- Under his guidance, Matsuzawa tied a 43-year old FBS record for consecutive made field goals to start a season, making his first 25 kicks of the year.
- Helped punter Billy Gowers earn first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus in 2025.
- Led a Nevada special teams unit that blocked a combined six kicks during his two-year tenure.
- Directed a Nevada special teams unit that blocked a combined six kicks during his two-year tenure.
- The Wolf Pack also ranked ninth nationally in net punting in 2020 and 17th in punt returns in 2021.
- In his first season at Nevada, coached three all-Mountain West players in kicker Brandon Talton, punt returner Romeo Doubs and punter Julian Diaz.
- Enjoyed a successful three-year stint at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where the Golden Lions were among the FCS national leaders in net punting, punt coverage, blocked punts and kickoff return average.
- While at APB, mentored two-time all-conference honoree and current New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan.
- Coached a Mary-Hardin Baylor program that went 38-3 during his tenure, including three conference titles and a pair of appearances in the Division III national semifinals.
- Coached American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) first-team All-American tight end Eric Nelson at Mary-Hardin Baylor.
- First coaching job was as quality control at his alma mater Sam Houston State where he was part of the 2012 squad that advanced to the FCS National Championship before finishing the season 14-1.
HOMETOWN
Waco, Texas
PERSONAL
Wife: Emily; Sons: Peyton, Cannon; Daughter: Blair
