Ben Thaw is in his second season as the Governors’ safeties coach after joining Jeff Faris’ staff in March 2025 and added defensive pass-game coordinator to his duties in 2026.
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: In his first season in Clarksville, Thaw helped lead a safety group that produced three of Austin Peay’s seven interceptions in 2025. Stephen Ellison II recorded two interceptions and 24 tackles, while Rishi Rattan added an interception and 22 tackles. Ellison also added a 23-yard interception return against Morehead State and a seven-yard return against Abilene Christian, while Rattan returned his interception 24 yards against North Alabama. Rattan also returned a blocked extra point 90 yards for a defensive two-point conversion against West Georgia.
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.
