Thomas Sheffield enters his second season as Nevada's special teams coordinator in 2021.
In just his first season in the position in 2020, Sheffield molded Pack special teams into one of the deepest such units in the nation. Kicker Brandon Talton (First Team), punt returner Romeo Doubs (Second Team), and punter Julian Diaz (Honorable Mention) each earned All-Mountain West recognition, while the Pack led the Mountain West and ranked ninth in the FBS in net punting (42.0 yards per punt).
Talton finished the season 15-for-18 on field goals, leading the Mountain West in field goals made, and ranking second with an 88.2 success rate, while Doubs ranked 16th in the country with 9.1 yards per punt return. Diaz, in his first season as the Pack's No. 1 punter, averaged 46.3 yards over 23 punts, with a long of 76. Eleven of his punts traveled 50-plus yards, and 11 landed inside the 20, with just one touchback.
Sheffield arrived at Nevada from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where he had a successful three-year run as the Golden Lions' special teams, coordinator and tight ends coach. He also served as the recruiting coordinator for the Golden Lions. Sheffield previously worked with Nevada's former special teams coach Tommy Perry at North Texas.
While at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sheffield guided a special teams unit that posted impressive results for the FCS program. In his first season, the Lions finished third nationally in net punting and eight in punt return defense, leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference and breaking school records in both categories.
He coached Jamie Gillan to first-team All-SWAC honors as both a kicker and punter during the 2018 season as GIllan was 13th nationally in net punting (37.5 yards per punt) and 16th in touchbacks. Last season, Sheffield's coverage teams were fourth in the SWAC in both kick coverage and punt coverage.
Gillan, known as the Scottish Hammer, is now the punter for the Cleveland Browns and averaged 46.2 yards per punt in his rookie season in 2019.
Prior to UAPB, Sheffield served as the special teams/offensive graduate assistant for the University of North Texas. In 2015, under Sheffield, punter Eric Keena finished the season with the 21st highest punting average in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and second highest in Conference USA. The following year Keena followed up that success ranked 23rd nationally and 2nd in Conference USA.
Prior to North Texas, Sheffield worked at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor where he served as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. In his three seasons at D-III UMHB, the Crusaders posted a 38-3 record with three American Southwest Conference (ASC) championships and appearances in the NCAA Division III semifinals in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, Coach Sheffield coached American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) First-Team All-American tight end Eric Nelson.
Coach Sheffield started his career as a quality control assistant for Willie Fritz at Sam Houston State University in 2011-2012. While at his alma mater, the Bearkats won the Southland Conference and made an appearance in the Division 1 FCS National Championship against North Dakota State. The Bearkats finished the season 14-1.
Sheffield graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology. He and his wife, Emily, have three children; sons Peyton (Bear) and Cannon (Wolf) and daughter Blair.
The File on Thomas Sheffield
Born: July 29, 1987
Family: Wife – Emily; Sons – Peyton (Bear), Cannon (Wolf); Daughter – Blair
Education: Bachelor's, Sam Houston State University
Coaching Experience
2020: Special Teams Coordinator, Nevada
2017-19: Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends, Arkansas – Pine Bluff
2015-17: Special Teams Graduate Assistant, North Texas
2012-15: Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator, Mary-Hardin Baylor
2011-12: Offensive Quality Control, Sam Houston State
