Former Millville high school head football coach Dennis Thomas is leaving Rutgers for Syracuse University. Thomas stepped down as Millville head coach in April, 2022 after leading the Thunderbolts for seven seasons.
He won a South Jersey Group IV title in 2021 with a team that was led by running back LeQuint Allen. Thomas also won a Group V title with Millville in 2016 and finished his Thunderbolts career with a 52-44 record. Allen ran for 274 yards on 41 carries (6.6 avg.), and caught 17 passes for 117 yards at Syracuse as a freshman in 2022.
Thomas spent the 2022 season at Rutgers. Thomas replaces Khalil Ahmad, who’s now the Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel and Recruitment at Penn State. Ahmad left Syracuse in late January during a slew of staff departures.
SU’s recruiting staff also includes Director of Recruiting Gino Gigliotti and Director of On-Campus Recruiting McKenzie Bostic.
The Orange signed four players originally from New Jersey in the 2023 class. The Garden State has been a focus for the program in recent cycles and has produced some of its better players, including Allen and defensive back Alijah Clark.
Thomas’ ties to the state, as well as those of SU tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile, who worked with Thomas at Rutgers, will help to continue that pipeline.
Portions of this content appeared on ESPN97.3 and syracuse.com
