Jake Thornton is in his first year as offensive line coach at Gardner-Webb University, and has developed the reputation as one of the top young minds at his position in college football. Thornton is also the Run Game Coordinator for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Thornton joined Tre Lamb’s staff in Boiling Springs after two seasons in the same role at FCS Tennessee Tech. There, he helped the Golden Eagles to one of the top turnarounds in the subdivision nationally in 2019.
Thornton’s offensive line cleared a path for 4,501 offensive yards in 2019 and protected one of the OVC’s most productive quarterbacks in Bailey Fisher. Guard Trevor Stephens earned Freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele following a season that saw him start 11 games. Sophomore guard Mike Rhoades was a second-team All-OVC choice following the season.
The offensive yardage produced by the Golden Eagles in 2019 marked the second-highest total in program history for a single season.
Thornton’s line helped Stephens earn 2018 OVC Freshman of the Year honors at quarterback and a spot on the 2018 Jerry Rice Award Watch List as a finalist.
Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee Tech, Thornton sharpened his skills at the highest levels of college football – serving as an offensive line graduate assistant on the National Championship staff at the University of Alabama in 2017. That offensive line featured future NFL Draft picks Jonah Williams (1st round, 2019) and Ross Pierschbacher (5th round, 2019) as well as second-team All-SEC selection Bradley Bozeman (2017).
The Crimson Tide defeated five top-20 teams en route to a 13-1 record and 17th national title in 2017, including back-to-back wins over top-5 teams in the College Football Playoffs – a 24-6 win over No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl and a 26-23 overtime win against No. 3 Georgia in the National Championship Game in Atlanta.
Thornton started his coaching career in 2016 as offensive quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach at his alma mater, Western Carolina. That season the Catamounts produced 4,252 yards of total offense and saw quarterback Tyrie Adams earn SoCon Freshman of the Year honors.
After beginning his college playing career at Division II national stalwart Carson-Newman, Thornton transferred to Western Carolina in 2012. He began a string of 33-consecutive starts in 2013 and helped the Catamounts to consecutive seven-win seasons and second-place finishes in the Southern Conference.
Thornton was named first-team All-SoCon in 2014 and second-team All-SoCon in 2015.
Football success runs in the family, as his grandfather Billy Shaw played guard for the Buffalo Bills and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1999). Shaw also starred at Georgia Tech prior to embarking on his pro career.
Thornton earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a political science minor from Western Carolina in 2015.
He, his wife, Alyssa and son Shaw, reside in Shelby, N.C.
