GREENVILLE, Pa. (April 14) -- Thiel College Head Football Coach Sam Bauman announced the additions of Mo De La Garza to be the team's offensive line coach and Jyair Thomas to serve as the Tomcats' defensive backs coach for the 2025 season.

"Mo and Jyair carry great love, passion and knowledge for the game," Bauman, who will be entering his fourth year at the helm of the Thiel program in 2025, said. "Both guys improve our program and make us stronger as we prepare for the 2025 season."

De La Garza comes to Thiel after spending the last three seasons as the offensive line graduate assistant coach at FCS University of the Incarnate Word. The Cardinals won a pair of Southland Conference championships in his time with the team.

"Mo brings a demeanor that will help push and teach our offensive line to be better each and every day," Bauman noted.

Prior to his stint at UIW, De La Garza was an offensive and defensive line coach as well as head JV coach at Antonian College Prep in San Antonio, Texas for four seasons. 

"His experience coaching at multiple levels along with his knowledge of line play will be a huge asset to our staff going into the fall," Bauman said.

De La Garza graduated from Incarnate Word with a Masters of Science in Kinesiology in December 2024.

Thomas comes to Greenville after completing a Sports Performance/Science Assistant Fellowship with the Baltimore Ravens in February. Thomas collaborated with coaches and staff to share the insights discovered which enabled them to make well-informed strategic decisions in the gameplay. 

"Jyair is a great teacher of skills and is looking to always learn more," Bauman stated. "These traits will be a huge help for our defensive staff this fall."

Thomas was a four-year standout at FCS Monmouth University where he appeared in 33 games. He also played one season at Division II Lock Haven University in 2023 where he had 39 tackles, 30 of which were solo. He forced one fumble and had one interception for the Bald Eagles.

"Jyair's players will learn from his experiences playing at a high level in college," Bauman added. "He has a great energy about him that people gravitate towards."

Thomas earned his Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Monmouth in 2022. He has completed 21 credits of his Masters of Science in Sports Performance and Exercise from Lock Haven. Thomas also is a certified personal trainer through the National Sports Medicine Academy.

The Tomcats recently also announced the additions of Jon Bevier (linebackers), Tom Keane (wide receivers and special teams coordinator) and Greg Polis (offensive coordinator) to serve on the coaching staff along side staff returners Kevin McLane (defensive line and recruiting coordinator), Donny Pattison (wide receivers) and Mateo Renteria (quarterbacks).

The 2025 Football schedule will officially be released to the public in the weeks ahead. For the first time since 2022, Presidents' Athletic Conference schools will return to non-conference action after playing a conference-only round-robin schedule format the last two seasons.