Scott Thiessen joined the Lamar University Cardinals coaching staff in February 2020 and is in his second season working with LU’s outside linebackers.
A native of Modesto, Calif., a veteran with 17 years of coaching experience, Thiessen comes to the Golden Triangle after spending eight seasons at the Air Force Prep School in Colorado where he served as head coach.
Also serving as the Cardinals special teams coordinator, Thiessen helped turn a former walk-on into one of the WAC's top kicker/punters last season. Bailey Giffen boomed nine punts of at least 50 yards in 2021, including 19 punts downed inside the opponent's 20, while averaging better than 39 yards per punt. As a kicker he was 7-of-10 on field goals (.700) including two makes of more than 50 yards.
While at the Air Force prep academy, two primary goals that Thiessen had were retention and player development. He recorded a nearly 70 percent retention rate during his time at the helm, and 70 percent of Air Force’s starters were former prep school players.
Thiessen oversaw a staff of eight to 12 coaches and worked with a new 55-man roster every season. During his time at the prep academy, Thiessen worked with defensive backs, defensive line, linebackers and also served as defensive and special teams coordinator.
Prior to his time at the Air Force Prep Academy, Thiessen spent six seasons as an assistant on staff at Chapman University. During his time in Orange, Calif., Thiessen worked directly with the Panthers’ secondary. Thiessen’s coaching career began at Modesto Junior College where he worked with the Modesto JC cornerbacks.
Thiessen graduated from Youngstown State in May 2004. A transfer from Modesto, Thiessen was a versatile athlete who played every position in the Penguins’ secondary. The true definition of a student athlete, Thiessen earned Academic All-America honors at both the NCAA FCS and NJCAA levels. He received his Master’s of Arts in Special Education in July 2010. Thiessen, and his wife, Alayne, of 14 years have two sons, Carter and Ryder.
