GREENVILLE, Pa. – Thiel College head football coach Sam Bauman recently hired three assistant coaches and elevated a current coach to recruiting coordinator.
 
Lou Orth will serve as the team's offensive line coach while Brandan Rivers will coach the team's strong safeties. Zackery Thrasher will serve as the team's tight ends coach.
 
Orth has more than 30 years of coaching experience at multiple levels, including a stint as the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Hildesheim Invaders of the NFL Europe League.
 
Orth began his career as an assistant football coach at Widener University. He served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and the recruiting coordinator at Farleigh Dickenson University. Most recently, Orth was the running backs coach at Albright College, where he was responsible for the run game and recruiting.
 
A graduate of Sales Foundation Academy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Rivers earned his bachelor's degree in health and physical education with a concentration in sport administration and recreation from Edinboro University. 
 
Rivers most recently served as an assistant coach at Hubbard high school, where he developed a strength and conditioning plan.
 
A graduate of LaFayette high school, Thrasher earned his bachelor's degree in sports, arts and entertainment management from Point Park University.
 
Thrasher has experience coaching at multiple levels, including the Pittsburgh Passion, a semi-professional women's football team. He most recently coached at West Allegheny high school, where he served as the assistant offensive line coach.
 
Hired in March as the team's wide receivers coach, Chris Parry was recently elevated to recruiting coordinator.
 
Parry arrived at Thiel with six years of Division I coaching experience. He spent the 2022 season as the defensive analyst at Pitt, specifically working with the team's defensive backs.


The Tomcats open up the 2023 season Saturday, September 2 at home against Case Western Reserve. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.