Eric Thatcher returns for his second season on the Slippery Rock coaching staff in 2014 and will move from the linebackers coach to the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Thatcher served as the linebackers coach in 2013 and helped lead a group of the top linebackers in the PSAC, including the trio of Quindell Dean, Gary Allen and Bob Westerlund. Dean recorded 14.5 tackles for a loss and 76 total tackles. Allen recorded 69 tackles and led the team in forced fumbles and Westerlund recorded 65 tackles and 11.5 tackles for a loss.
Thatcher came to Slippery Rock in 2013 after serving as the quality control coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League.
Prior to joining the Bills' staff, Thatcher served one season as defensive backs coach at Mercyhurst College, one season as graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh and one season as defensive backs coach at St. Vincent College.
A three-year starter as a defensive back at Pitt, Thatcher served one season (2010) as linebackers/defensive backs graduate assistant under his former head coach, western Pennsylvania native Dave Wannstadt. Thatcher rejoined Wannstadt's staff in Buffalo while the former NFL head coach was the Bills' defensive coordinator.
Prior to accepting the GA position at his alma mater, Thatcher served as defensive backs coach at St. Vincent in 2009 under former Rock All-America linebacker and assistant coach Shawn Rohrer, who was the Bearcats' defensive coordinator.
Thatcher received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Pitt, the first as an administration of justice major in May 2007 and the second as a social sciences major in December 2008.
Thatcher and his wife, Britni, are the proud parents of one son, Eli.
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