Coach James Thigpen is entering his first season with the Kell High School Longhorns.  Prior to, he coached at Campbell High School where he started under the tutelage of Coach Kyle Hockman (McEachern High School).  He has coached defensive line, linebackers, and has also been a defensive coordinator.  In his coaching experiences, Coach Thigpen values the bonds he has created with present and past players who have excelled academically and athletically.

Coach Thigpen played collegiate football while attending Alabama State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Therapeutic Recreation.  He is currently in the process of completing his Masters Degree. While at ASU, he was a member of a team that won its first ever SWAC Championship posting an 11-0-1 record.  This team also played in an NCAA Division I FCS bowl game pitting a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the first ever Heritage Bowl in Miami, Florida.  As a Red-shirt Freshman, Coach Thigpen earned a starting role at Outside Linebacker.  As a senior, he started at Defensive End where he continued to excel in this role.  During his playing days at ASU, Coach Thigpen won various linebacker and special teams awards.

Coach Thigpen is most proud of his wonderful family.  He and his beautiful wife Regine have 2 sons, Sabien and Dylan.