Thomas Pearson 2023

Thomas Pearson

Thomas Pearson is in his third season as a member of the Gannon coaching staff in 2023. He served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator after joining the Gannon staff in July 2021 and was the defensive backs coach last year after coaching the linebackers in 2021. Pearson was elevated to Co-Defensive Coordinator this past February and will share the duties with Cody Swanson.

Pearson brings 12 years of collegiate coaching experience and six years as a defensive coordinator to the Gannon staff.
With Pearson assisting defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo last year, the new-look defensive staff revitalized the Gannon defense. The end result was an improvement from 5-6 in 2021 to 8-3 last fall as Gannon finished in a three-way tie with Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock for first place in the PSAC West.

After allowing 29 points and 396 total yards per game in 2021 those figures dropped to 21.9 points and 287.4 yards per game, a huge improvement. Gannon ranked sixth in the PSAC in scoring defense and fourth in total defense along with seventh in rushing defense (103.5 ypg.) and sixth in passing defense (183.9 ypg.). The Golden Knights recorded 33 sacks, the second-highest total in the PSAC and 22nd in Division II.

Pearson coached first-team All-PSAC West performer Chris Farnsworth last year. The hybrid defensive back led the team in tackles and was one of only two players in Division II with 90 tackles and four interceptions.
 
Gannon’s special teams have also excelled during Pearson’s tenure. The Golden Knights blocked four kicks – two punts and two field goals – in 2021.  
 
Prior to joining the Gannon staff Pearson served as the Defensive Coordinator at his alma mater, Ottawa University in Kansas, from 2016-20. He coached the linebackers in 2016 and ’17, the secondary in 2018 and ’19, and the defensive line in 2020. Pearson was an AFCA 2021 Spring Coach of the Year finalist at Ottawa. He coached 37 All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference during his tenure, including three All-Americans.
 
Pearson’s defenses enjoyed considerable success during five-year tenure with the Braves. In 2020 Ottawa led the KCAC in interceptions while ranking second in sacks after ranking third in both total defense and scoring defense in 2018. The 2018 edition posted an 8-2 record.
 
In 2017 Ottawa was second in the KCAC in pass defense, and in 2016 the Braves were second in rushing defense and third in third down defense.
 
Pearson began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Ottawa during the 2010 season, working with the defensive line.  In 2012 and 2013 he served as a graduate assistant coach at Bethel (Tenn.) University, where he coached the linebackers. That was followed by a position as linebacker coach at Orange Coast College in 2014 and ’15.
 
He coached four all-conference linebackers at Orange Coast College, and two all-conference linebackers and a preseason All-American at Bethel.
 
Pearson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science from Ottawa (Kan.) University in December 2009. He completed work on his master’s degree in Secondary Education from Bethel (Tenn.) University in 2013.
 
Pearson resides in Erie with his wife Nicole, twin boys Thomas III (8) and Jackson (8), and daughter Zoë (2).

updated June 2023



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