Bio

Thomas Rebholz is entering his sixth season on the Oilers coaching staff in 2022. From 2015-2018, Rebholz served as the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator and, after spending two years at Fairmont State, returned in 2021 as the Oilers' defensive coordinator.

In the abbriviated spring season of 2021, Findlay's defense led the G-MAC in ppg against, allowing just 6.5 ppg. Their five touchdowns allowed were the least by any team in the conference while the 249.5 yards per game allowed ranked second. The strength of that squad was stopping the run where the Oilers led the conference with just 81.2 yards per game allowed on the ground. For that effort, Findlay had eight players earn all-conference honors including Christopher Jefferson who earned G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

During his first season leading the Fairmont State defense, the Falcons ranked 38th in the country in total defense (320.0) and fifth in the country against the run at just 77.7 yards per game allowed. The Falcons also ranked eighth in the country in first-down defense, and the unit's 15 interceptions ranked 27th in NCAA Division II. Four members of the Fairmont State defense earned All-Mountain East Conference honors in 2019, including a trio of first-team selections (D.J. Adediwura, Trevon Shorts, and Michael Porter. Porter also earned honorable mention All-America honors from the Don Hansen Gazette.

During the 2019 season, Fairmont State's rush defense held opponents to negative yards on the ground twice.

2017 was a special season for the Oilers as they spent most of the year ranked in the top-25 and earned the program's first trip to the NCAA Division II National Playoffs. Rebholz coached sophomore Isaac Miles to a first team all-conference selection and helped guide the Oilers' defense to a conference-best 19.2 points per game allowed.

In the 2016 season, the Oilers defense held their opponents to 26.0 points per game, the lowest total since 2009. The team's 70 tackles-for-loss and 25 sacks are both the most since 2013 and the 386.3 yards per game allowed were 82 less yards per game than the season prior.

In his first season at Findlay, Rebholz coached and developed an all-conference linebacker. Rebholz also helped guide 12 of his linebackers to GPAs over 3.00 with the group's average coming in at 3.26.

Rebholz came to the Oilers after five years at California University (Pa.) where he helped the team compile a 43-14 record during his tenure. While with the Vulcans, Rebholz served as a safeties coach and assisted with the development of four all-conference safties. Two of those safties were all-Americans Rontez Miles and Dewey McDonald. Miles was a two-time PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year before being invited to the 2013 NFL Combine and later signed with the New York Jets. McDonald signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.

Along with the individual success for his players, Rebholz coached the Vulcans to team success. During his time as safties coach, the defense finished seasons with seven top-ten national rankings in areas such as rushing defense, passing touchdowns allowed, passing yards allowed, and total defense:

• 2014 - #6 in rushing defense
• 2013 - #1 in passing TD allowed
• 2013 - #5 in passing efficiency
• 2013 - #8 in passing yards allowed
• 2013 - #9 in scoring defense
• 2011 - #5 in scoring defense
• 2011 - #6 in total defense
• 2011 - #14 in defensive passing efficiency

Prior to Cal U, Rebholz served as an assistant coach at Pikeville (Ky.), an NAIA program. He also previously served as a graduate assistant with Duquesne in 2008. While with the Dukes, he worked with the tight ends and also assisted with the strength & conditioning program.

A native of Pittsburgh, Rebholz joined the Vulcans after being a four-year letterman at rival IUP from 1998-2001. With the Crimson Hawks, he was a fullback for a program that posted a 35-11 record and appeared in four-straight NCAA Playoffs. As a senior, he received the Tim Singel Program Award (formerly the Coaches Award).

Following his playing days with the Crimson Hawks, he was a student assistant at IUP in 2002 before coaching as an assistant at Gettysburg in 2003.

Rebholz graduated from IUP in 2003 as a double major in physical education and sport and business administration.

Thomas and his wife Julie have two children, Sophia and Stella.