Freshman Asia Thigpen says her father, North Carolina football defensive coordinator Tommy Thigpen, normally offers her advice after each volleyball match. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Tommy Thigpen was a three-time all-ACC linebacker at North Carolina and was on the coaching staff at Auburn during the national championship season. Currently he is the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Carolina where he’s been on staff since 2018.
His daughter, Asia, is a freshman volleyball player at Kentucky who is currently nursing a knee injury and has missed the last three matches, all UK losses, going into Friday’s SEC opener against Auburn.
The Kentucky freshman, who had 27 digs and 18 kills in the first eight matches, said because of conflicting practice schedules she does not get to talk to her dad often. The one exception is after matches when he’ll call.
“He’ll watch my games and then call me and tell me what I need to do better and then I give him the same kind of feedback about his players too,” she said. “It’s definitely that kind of good relationship where we can both give each other feedback about sports.”
Asia Thigpen noted her father was not quite the volleyball expert he believes he is.
“He claims he knows a lot about volleyball, but he really doesn’t know much. He knows like to hit it hard, so that’s what he just tells me,” the Kentucky freshman said. “He also says, ‘If you get set, you better get a kill. Hit it hard.’” But he means well.”
Asia Thigpen says the mental preparation for college has been an adjustment
“You have to make sure we know who we are talking about, who we are studying and a bunch of staff,” Thigpen said. “Our coaches do a really good job getting us prepared and making sure our intensity and focus are there.”
