Tommy Thigpen highly recommended to Volunteers Posted Jan 3, 2013 Tommy Thigpen coached the Tigers' safeties his first three seasons at Auburn before taking over the linebackers this season. When Auburn won the 2010 national championship, Gene Chizik became the third title-winning head coach for whom Thigpen has worked. He coached for two seasons at Bowling Green under Urban Meyer and for four seasons at North Carolina under Butch Davis. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)