Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football program has added Steven Thrash to the Cru full-time coaching staff, UMHB Head Coach
Pete Fredenburg announced Monday (July 17
th). Thrash will coach receivers and serve as head coach of the Cru junior varsity program.
Thrash joins UMHB after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Abilene Christian University. Thrash was the Wildcats' receivers coach for the last three seasons after coaching tight ends his first year in Abilene. Thrash also spent one season as receivers coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville after opening his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College. He guided a pair of freshmen to All-Conference honors that season.
"Steven's expertise and knowledge made him a very attractive candidate to me," Fredenburg said. "He has been heavily involved in the offense at Abilene Christian. He is such a professional and I just really liked him and his family a lot. It also really helps that he knows the area and knows the conference and it was just a good fit."
Thrash is a 2010 graduate of Texas Lutheran University with a degree in kinesiology. He was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter at wide receiver for the Bulldogs in a playing career that spanned 2006-2010. Thrash was an All-American Southwest Conference player at TLU and finished his career as the school's Division III era leader in career receptions. He still holds third place on the Bulldog career receptions list. Thrash completed his Master's of Education at Pittsburg State University in 2014.
"I knew the tradition of UMHB from my time at TLU, but to see the setup and operations and the way players and coaches were treated here was amazing," Thrash said. "When the National Champions call, you have to answer and I am so impressed with the commitment to winning here."
Thrash is a native of Hubbard, Texas. His wife, Chanel, is also a graduate of TLU and the couple has two daughters. Thrash will replace
Kieth Mullins on the UMHB coaching staff. Mullins resigned to join his oldest son, Jeremy, at Tolar High School. Jeremy is entering his first season as head coach at Tolar and
Kieth Mullins will serve as offensive coordinator.
The Cru won its first National Championship with a 10-7 victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Stagg Bowl XLIV in December. UMHB finished 15-0 and won the ASC with a 6-0 league record. The Cru will kick off the 2017 season with a home game against Sul Ross State on September 9
th.
