Cedric Thornton enters the 2026 season as Tennessee State’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He was elevated to lead the Tigers’ defense after serving as associate head coach and linebackers coach during his first season at TSU in 2025.
Under Thornton’s direction, Tennessee State’s linebackers recorded the team’s three highest tackle totals in 2025. James Stewart led the Tigers with 68 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, seven quarterback hurries and four pass breakups on his way to All-OVC-Big South First Team honors. Micah Gay followed with 61 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery. Sammy Taylor added 51 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two quarterback hurries and one blocked kick. The trio combined for 180 tackles during Thornton’s first season in Nashville.
Thornton joined Tennessee State with more than two decades of coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels. Before arriving at TSU, he served as defensive tackles coach and special teams coordinator at Alabama A&M following successful defensive coordinator stints at Grambling State and Alcorn State. Throughout his career, Thornton has helped develop some of the most productive defenses in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
During two seasons at Grambling State under head coach Hue Jackson, Thornton mentored defensive end Sundiata Anderson, who earned multiple conference and national honors. He also coached defensive lineman Keyshawn Johnson, a 2023 Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American.
Before Grambling State, Thornton played a key role at Alcorn State, helping guide the Braves to two SWAC championships and consecutive Celebration Bowl appearances. After being promoted to assistant head coach in 2019, he oversaw a defense that ranked among the FCS national leaders with 21 interceptions, 36 takeaways and 15 fumble recoveries while posting a .689 red-zone defensive percentage.
Alcorn State led the nation in 2018 with 4.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss per game while finishing among the top 10 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and red-zone efficiency. Thornton also developed multiple all-conference and All-America performers, including linebacker Solomon Muhammad and defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole.
Thornton previously served as defensive coordinator at Alabama State, where his 2014 unit ranked among the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, passing defense and total takeaways. The Hornets held seven opponents below 20 points and recorded the program’s first official shutout since 1994 with a victory over Savannah State.
His coaching career also includes a stop at Texas Southern and extensive experience in the high school ranks in Montgomery, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Florida.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Thornton played collegiately at Alabama State from 1991 to 1995. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State in 2000 and completed his master’s degree at Texas Southern in 2016.
