Drew Thatcher

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Title

Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator & QB's
Email

thatcherd2@unk.edu
Phone

(308) 865-8020

Drew Thatcher was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Nebraska-Kearney in the winter of 2019.

"We are extremely excited to have Drew Thatcher apart of the Loper Family. Drew is a proven offensive coordinator who has recruited and developed multiple Division 1 quarterbacks," said former Loper head coach Josh Lynn. "He has a great offensive mind and will great addition to our offensive system." 35637

The New Mexico native came to UNK after spending seven seasons at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), a junior college program. A wide receiver at New Mexico State, he served as the Broncos receivers and H-Backs coach in 2012 before becoming offensive coordinator in 2013.

Thatcher then added the title of assistant head coach in 2015. During his time in Roswell, he also coached the running backs and tight ends, coordinated the video for the program and ran the 7-on-7 summer football camp.

In 2019 UNK set new school team records for rushing yards (4,115) and rushing touchdowns (45) for a single season. The Lopers went 7-5 and won the Mineral Water Bowl, the program's fourth-ever postseason victory. Quarterback TJ Davis was tabbed as the MIAA's Freshman of the Year after rushing for 1,034 yards and 16 scores. Senior back David Goodwin (1,043) also went over 1,000 yards, marking the first time in UNK's history it had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same fall. Davis, Goodwin and backs Dayton Sealey and Darrius Webb were all named to the all-league team as was receiver/kick returner Sedarius Young.

Davis ended his first year as the starting QB with 861 passing yards and nine TD's with Young averaging a gaudy 29.7 yards per catch. Overall, the Lopers averaged 36 points and 477 yards per game while averaging 33 minutes in time of possession.

The 2020 season was canceled by the on-going COVID pandemic but UNK was one of a handful of D2 schools to play countable games in the fall. The Lopers won at Pittsburg State, 31-26, for the first time in 37 years while beating in-state rival Chadron State, 45-35, at home. The offense averaged 38 points and 414 yards while converting 62% of its 3rd downs and going 10 for 10 in the red zone.

A 2021 season featured a 10-3 record and a trip to the Division II playoffs. Davis was runner up for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the D2 Heisman, and tabbed as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year. He totaled 3,471 yards of total offense and had 21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving scores. UNK averaged 34 points and 450 yads per game and was again one of D2's top rushing teams.

Davis repeated as MIAA Offensive POY in 2022 as he had 2,506 yards over 11 games. The Lopers went 8-3 and came in at 33 points and 402 yards per week. UNK scored 80% of the time it reached the red zone, converted 11 of 14 fourth downs and rushed for 27 TD's.

In 2013 Thatcher helped NMMI go 8-4 and win the El Toro Bowl. It was Broncos first postseason win since 1999 and marked a second straight winning season. The program also went 5-4 in 2016 and averaged 31 points in 2018. Among the skill players he coached at NMMI were Goodwin and Young.

The NMMI QB's to have worked with Thatcher include Jordan Ta'amu (Ole Miss), Conner Cramer (New Mexico State) and Quinn Billerman (FCS-member North Carolina Central). Ta'amu started 17 games for Ole Miss, spent time in the XFL and signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in the summer of 2020.

Thatcher earned a Bachelor's in Kinesiology and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from NMSU. He was also a graduate assistant coach, working with the Aggies offense from 2009-2011. He was a wide receiver for the Aggies from 2004-2008, playing four seasons under "Air Raid" architect Hal Mumme.