BABSON PARK, Fla. – Webber International University's football team brought in three new assistant coaches to help in the 2013 season. Rashad West, Kiwaukee Thomas, and Bart Monroe all joined the Warrior football program over the summer break.
Rashad West
Asst. Football Coach (Receivers)
Coach West spent the last four seasons as the Head Football Coach at Western High School in Davie, Florida. Prior to arriving at Western High School, West served as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. Prior to his tenure at FDU, West spent two seasons as the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Braden River High School in Bradenton, Florida. Previously, Coach Rashad West served as a Graduate Assistant and Wide Receivers Coach for two seasons at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. During the 2002 season, he coached the Wide Receivers at Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Florida.
During his playing career, West was a two year starter as a Quarterback at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Coach West earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southeast Mo. State (2001) and a M.A.Ed. from University of Phoenix (2009)
Kiwaukee Thomas
Asst. Football Coach (Defensive Backs)
Coach Thomas takes over the defensive backs in his first year with the Webber staff. He brings with him 17 years of football experience including four years of playing experience at Georgia Southern University, nine years in the National Football League, and a short stint in the Canadian Football League, followed by four years of high school coaching. His coaching career boasts winning seasons and playoff appearances. Last season, he was the Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Back Coach for Wharton High School in Tampa, Florida. As the defensive coordinator, he had the top ranked defense in his district.
Mentoring young athletes has been something that Coach Thomas has done since coming out of the NFL in 2008. Most recently, he mentored and coached for the past two seasons , ESPN's 2013 Top 150 Prospect's and the No. 1 cornerback, Vernon Hargreaves, who is also ranked their No. 2 overall athlete in the country. In addition to Vernon Hargreaves, he has had the pleasure to work with a lot of exceptional athletes whom have gone on to have successful careers at the college and professional level: Casey Hayward (DB -Green Bay Packers), K.J. Morton (DB- Baylor), John Tyler (DB- South Dakota) and Darius Page (RB – Methodist University).
Coach Thomas graduated from Perry High School in Georgia and was named team MVP in football and basketball. He played at Georgia Southern University, winning a National Championship, All-American honors, and All-Southern Conference Defensive Back honors in 1999.
Coach Thomas was a 5th round pick in the 2000 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. As a defensive back, he played for the Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Detroit Lions. He has learned from distinguished coaches including Tom Coughlin, Nick Saban, Jack Del Rio, Dick Jauron, and Perry Fewell. Thomas finished his career with CFL's Montreal Alouettes, retiring in 2009. He also served as an analyst for ESPN's Sports Radio 1500 The Fan for 4 years. He and wife, Tanessa, have four children: Bryce, Kristopher, Kiera, and Bria. Coach Thomas has a coaching philosophy of Choices, Decisions, and Consequences. There are choices in everything you do. Out of those choices you have to make decisions, and out of those decisions you have to live with the consequences.
Bart Monroe
Asst. Football Coach (Running Backs Coach)
Coach Monroe enters his first year with the Warriors and will serve as Running Backs Coach. He has spent the last four years on the staff at Mosley High School in Panama City while also serving on active duty with the United States Navy. He recently retired after a 24 year career as a Navy Diver and is currently working towards his Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Administration. He currently resides in Babson Park with his wife Danielle and daughter Macee Anna.
