Joe Thrasher enters his fifth season at the helm of the Belhaven football program. Thrasher guided the Blazers to their first winning season since 2006 leading the team to a 6-5 overall record in 2009 while posting a 4-2 Mid-South Conference mark which was good for second place in the Western Division. He matched those numbers again in 2012.
Prior to becoming the Head Coach at Belhaven, Thrasher spent three seasons at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma after having been a Blazer assistant coach during the 2005 season, and a Belhaven player from 1998 through the 2000 season. During his three seasons at Bacone, Thrasher rebuilt the program into a contender as the Warriors went from 3-7 in 2006 to 7-4 during the 2008 campaign. Under Thrasher’s direction, his high powered offense has been one of the best in the NAIA in multiple categories over the last three seasons.
After Graduating from Belhaven, Thrasher spent his first three years as the head coach at the Mississippi School for the Deaf in Jackson. He led the school to three straight Deaf National Championships from 2001-2003 and was named National Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
“I am excited to be leading the Blazer Football Program,” says Coach Thrasher. “As an alumni and part of the first team, I feel it an honor to serve this institution and football team. I look forward to this season and have confidence in my coaching staff and players to be successful both on and off the field.”
Under Thrasher’s guidance in 2012, 17 players being recognized by the Mid-South Conference for their efforts on the field and in the classroom when the awards were announced by the MSC. The Blazers put seven players on the All-Conference West Division First Team, including Calvin Lewis who was named Defensive Player of the Year. Nine additional players were West Division Honorable Mention selections while three players earned Academic All MSC honors.
Coach Thrasher is married to Martha Thrasher, has three kids Joe Gunn, Hollyn, and Kristopher and resides in Flowood, MS.
