Ben Thaw is in his first season as the Governors’ safeties coach after joining Jeff Faris’ staff in March 2025.
Prior to joining the Governors, Thaw was a linebackers coach at Lehigh for two seasons. Before his time in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, he served in various roles on Wake Forest’s coaching staff, including a graduate assistant for linebackers and defensive backs, a defensive quality control coach, and a recruiting intern.
Thaw earned a bachelor’s in government from Wesleyan University in 2020 and earned a master’s in liberal art studies from Wake Forest in 2023.
THAW’S CAREER SUMMARY
Austin Peay (2025-CURRENT)
2025: Joined Jeff Faris’ staff as the Governors’ safeties coach in March 2025.
Lehigh (2023-24)
2024: In his final season in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, the Mountain Hawks went 9-4 and won the Patriot League with a 5-1 record in conference play. Lehigh advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2017 and defeated No. 9 Richmond in the opening round of the playoffs, marking the program’s first postseason victory since 2011 and its 10th all-time. Linebacker Mike DeNucci was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award – presented to the best defensive player in the FCS – and was a First Team All-Patriot League selection. DeNucci started all 11 games for the Mountain Hawks, totaling 80 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three pass deflections.
2023: In his first season as Lehigh’s linebackers coach, Mike DeNucci was one of three Mountain Hawks to earn postseason recognition, as the senior linebacker was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection after totaling 87 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble and blocked kick.
Wake Forest (2020-22)
2022: Was a defensive graduate assistant and transitioned from working with Wake Forest’s defensive backs to linebackers. The Demon Deacons went 8-5 and defeated Missouri in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Senior linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. was an All-ACC Honorable Mention selection with 117 tackles – the most by a Demon Deacon since 2006 – 5.5 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hurries, three pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.
2021: Worked as a defensive graduate assistant with the Demon Deacons' defensive backs. Wake Forest went 11-3, including 7-1 in ACC play to win the Atlantic Division, and defeated Rutgers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Redshirt senior Traveon Redd was a Second Team All-ACC selection with 69 tackles, 2.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections.
2020: Served as a football recruiting intern during his first season in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2016-19)
A four-year letterwinner at Wesleyan University, Thaw appeared in 31 games, totaling 100 tackles and 11 interceptions throughout his collegiate career. Was a First Team All-New England and All-East Region selection as a senior with 33 tackles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and two blocked kicks. He had two interceptions and eight pass breakups as a junior, and four interceptions and 10 pass breakups during his sophomore season.
