Prior to that, he spent 14 years as an assistant coach in the collegiate ranks, including a stint at Auburn University where he was part of the 2010 National Championship team.

Thigpen played as a linebacker at the University of North Carolina and thereafter was drafted by the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).

[3] BGSU also finished second in the MAC in pass efficiency defense,[3] while Thigpen's special teams also were impressive, blocking seven punts and one field goal.

[4] Although new coach Ron Zook asked him to stay on the staff, Thigpen decided to take the same position at his alma-mater, North Carolina, for the 2005 season.

In his first four seasons coaching at Chapel Hill he tutored UNC's leading tacklers, including Durell Mapp who came to Carolina as a walk-on and finished with the second most tackles in the ACC and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers.

When Fedora was fired following the conclusion of the 2018 season, Thigpen was retained and elevated to co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach by the returning Mack Brown, whom he had played under from 1989–1992.