Davenport University Athletics

Thomas Byrd comes to Davenport University beginning with the 2021 season from Pacific University and Concordia University (Neb.) where he was the offensive coordinator and coached the offensive line. During his first season leading the Concordia offense the team averaged 24.6 points per game on 371.5 yards per game, rushing for nearly 200 yards per contest in season that saw the Bulldogs finish 6-4. Prior to Concordia he was an assistant coach overseeing the offensive line at New Mexico Highlands (NCAA DII). 

Before coaching in Las Vegas at New Mexico Highlands, Byrd was an Offensive Graduate Assistant Coach at Boise State in 2014. In a season with his alma mater, Byrd was part of an offensive coaching staff that guided a Broncos’ offense that finished 19th in FBS yards-per-play (up from 42nd in 2013) and ninth in scoring offense. Boise State won the Mountain West and Fiesta Bowl championships. The Broncos defeated Arizona, 38-30, in their bowl game.

In 2013, Byrd was a Graduate Assistant Coach at Arkansas State. That season, the Red Wolves won the Sun Belt Conference and defeated Ball State, 23-20, in the GoDaddy Bowl. Prior to joining the Red Wolves' staff, Byrd worked as an Offensive Line and Tight Ends Coach at Contra Costa College in Richmond, California, where he helped produce three First Team All-Conference Linemen. He served as the team's Run Game Coordinator and Director of Strength and Conditioning and also coordinated the scout team.

On the gridiron in his playing days Byrd played for Boise State from 2007-11, lettering in three seasons.  A First Team All-Conference performer as a redshirt junior in 2010, he was named to both the Rimington Trophy (awarded to the top center in NCAA Division I FBS) and Rotary Lombardi Award (awarded to the best NCAA Division I FBS Lineman or Linebacker) Watch Lists in 2011. He was the starting center in 2010 and 2011 for quarterback Kellen Moore, who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2010 and played in the NFL and is the current offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. 

In his final four seasons in Boise, Idaho, the Broncos were 3-1 in bowl games, including a win in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in the 2009-2010 season (against TCU, 17-10) finishing that season 14-0. 

Byrd earned his bachelor's degree from Boise State in communication and also went on to earn his master's degree from Boise State in Athletic Leadership, Physical Education teaching and coaching. He also earned a master's degree from Arkansas State in communication and media studies.